Georgakis MK, Malik R, Björkbacka H, et al. - Researchers used previously unpublished data from six population-based, prospective cohort studies to investigate the link between circulating levels of monocyte-chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and risk of incident stroke in the general population. They analyzed data from 17,180 stroke-free individuals. The mean follow-up duration was 16.3 years. Cox proportional hazard models were applied, and they used random-effects meta-analyses to pool hazard ratios. Elevated long-term risk of stroke was observed in relation to higher circulating levels of MCP-1. A higher risk of ischemic stroke, though not hemorrhagic stroke, was reported in a significant link with baseline MCP-1 levels. Combining genetic and experimental evidence as well as findings from this study, experts concluded that MCP-1-signaling might serve as a therapeutic target to lower stroke risk.