However, further investigations are needed to delineate the precise roles of GDF-15, for example, whether it is produced as an anti-inflammatory response toward cerebrovascular insults, or as part of the pathogenic mechanism accompanying macrophage activation.[6] Follow-up studies on the longitudinal relationship between plasma GDF-15 and cognitive decline for dementia of different etiologies are also needed in order to better assess its clinical prognostic and diagnostic utility. The gene discussed is GDF15; the disease is Mental deterioration.