Inflammatory faCtors AfteR acUte Ischemic Stroke

Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥ 50 years * Acute ischemic stroke (time frame: \<72 hours) as defined by an acute focal neurological deficit in combination with a corresponding infarct as documented by a diffusion weighted imaging (DWI)-positive lesion on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); presence of an infarct involving the cortex or a strictly subcortical infarct * Written informed consent prior to study participation * Willingness to participate in study assessments including follow-up Exclusion Criteria: * Unwillingness or inability to give written consent * Prior history of stroke, multiple infarcts, infratentorial infarcts affecting the brain stem or cerebellum * Known diseases of the CNS other than stroke * Immunomodulatory therapies within the last 3 months prior stroke * Chronic inflammatory disease * Infectious diseases within the last 7 days prior stroke * Conditions interfering with follow-up such as end-stage malignancy * Contraindications for MRI or PET (pacemaker, aneurysm clip, cochlear implant etc.) * Radiation exposure of \> 10mSv per year * Pregnant or breastfeeding women * Participation in a clinical trial