ESOC 2022 | Role of mendelian randomization studies in stroke research

Mendelian randomization uses genetic variant data to elucidate causal associations between modifiable exposures and outcomes. Marios K. Georgakis, MD, PhD, Mass General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, & LMU Munich University Hospital, Munich, Germany, discusses the use of this analytical method in stroke research. When assessing an outcome of interest, looking at the effect of genetic variants related to a certain risk factor provides evidence of the influence of the risk factor on the outcome, while mitigating the effects of confounding and reverse causation. Mendelian randomization studies have provided useful insights into the role of blood pressure in stroke risk, inflammation in large-artery atherosclerotic strokes, and lipids in intracerebral hemorrhage. This interview took place at European Stroke Organisation Conference 2022 in Lyon, France.