Abstract: Tools for identifying risk of and for treating vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) and stroke-induced cognitive impairment in a subject are provided and include a method and a device that involve detecting target proteins in systemic blood sample from the subject.

Abstract: Tools for identifying risk of cerebral edema in a stroke patient are provided and include a method that involves identifying risk of cerebral edema when cytokines and chemokines are detected in a systemic blood sample from the subject.

Abstract: The presently-disclosed subject matter generally to methods for identifying and analyzing biomarkers to determine group effects. The presently-disclosed subject matter also relates to methods for identifying genes and proteins that increase or decrease in response to ischemic stroke damage. The disclosed subject matter further describes methods of predicting edema and infarct volume in a patient. Also described herein are methods of determining the necessity of intervention for smokers. Further disclosed herein, are methods for testing therapies for ischemic stroke.