Stroke is a vascular disease that impacts the brain and is one of the leading causes of disability and death worldwide; notably, heart diseases contribute significantly to its development and risk. Specifically, atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most important and well-known heart condition associated with stroke risk, contributing to up to 25 % of ischemic cases, with even poorer clinical outcomes and higher death rates compared to strokes not caused by AF [1]. Despite the well-established role of AF in clot formation within the left atrium and as a source of cardio-embolic strokes, there is ongoing debate about whether AF is actually the cause of stroke or merely a risk marker.
