This co-excretion mechanism for Cd and LMW proteins, also observed for Cd and albumin (Akerstrom et al. 2013a, 2013b; Hotz et al. 1999; Paschal et al. 2000), might also explain the associations between U-Cd and degenerative diseases whose progression or severity is predicted by increased albuminuria or proteinuria, such as diabetic nephropathy and cardiovascular and bone diseases (Barzilay et al. 2013; Ninomiya et al. 2009; Smink et al. 2012). The gene discussed is ALB; the disease is neurodegenerative disease.