IL6 and Mental deterioration: <h4>Introduction</h4>Inflammatory factors, particularly interleukin (IL)-6, are implicated in post-stroke cognitive decline, yet the association with longitudinal changes in these markers remains unclear.<h4>Methods</h4>Plasma IL-6 and other inflammatory markers were measured within 96 hours of ischemic stroke, and at 6-9 and 18-21 months, alongside cognitive assessment.