Risk of severe cerebral atherosclerosis was reduced significantly with plasma level of TRAIL increased by one SD (OR 0.438; 95% CI 0.282–0.681; P<0.001), whereas increased with high plasma levels of OPG and DR5 (OR 2.707; 95% CI 1.702–4.302, P <0.001; OR 3.593; 95% CI 1.878–6.869, P <0.001; Tables 2 and 3). This evidence concerns the gene TNFRSF11B and cerebral atherosclerosis.