Evidence quality
Mechanism
A proposed biological explanation for how something might work.
What it means
Definition
Mechanism: A mechanism can make a claim plausible, but plausibility is not the same as proof that an intervention improves outcomes in people.
What it can tell you
It can help clarify what sort of evidence or claim is being discussed.
What it cannot tell you
It cannot, by itself, prove that the headline is accurate or clinically important.
Headline trap
Why this matters in headlines
A nutrient may affect a pathway in cells, but that does not prove taking it prevents dementia.