Defects in this gene have also been linked to familial Mediterranean fever. In addition, the NLRP3 inflammasome has a role in the pathogenesis of gout, hemorrhagic stroke and neuroinflammation occurring in protein-misfolding diseases, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and prion diseases. Amelioration of mouse models of many diseases has been shown to occur by deletion of the NLRP3 inflammasome, including gout, type 2 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and atherosclerosis. The compound β-Hydroxybutyrate has been shown to block NLRP3 activation, and thus may be of benefit for many of these diseases.