Low plasma adiponectin levels in humans are an indicator of the metabolic syndrome and associated with unfavourable cardiovascular and metabolic risk profile1,3,5,6, including insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, low HDL-cholesterol, etc. Furthermore, low plasma adiponectin levels are significantly related to high risk of coronary artery disease in men7, an increased risk of mortality after ischemic stroke8, and neurological severity in ischemic stroke patients9. The gene discussed is ADIPOQ; the disease is type 2 diabetes mellitus.