Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: Impact of Anticoagulation Therapy on the Cognitive Decline and Dementia in Patients With Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation (CAF Trial)
Brief Summary: Patients will be screened at Intermountain Medical Center and at Intermountain-affiliated anticoagulation clinics in the Salt Lake City region. Patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation will be considered for study. After written informed consent is obtained, subjects who meet eligibility criteria will be randomized 1:1 to 2 treatment arms: Group 1: Dabigatran etexilate (150 mg BID if CrCL \> 30 mL/min, or 75 mg BID if CrCL \> 15 to 30 mL/min or per USPI; and Group 2: Warfarin (Dose-adjusted (INR 2.0 - 3.0). Assessment of kidney function every 6 months will be done for Group 1. Standard warfarin follow-up and education, based upon system criteria, will be done for Group 2. All subjects will be followed for 24 months, and will be assessed at 1-week, then 3-, 6-, 12-, 18- and 24-months post-anticoagulation visits as well as other visits deem necessary for clinical care. All subjects will undergo protocol-specified laboratory tests and will complete 6 standard, validated questionnaires at each follow-up visit following the week 1 visit, except at the 3-month visit when only one questionnaire will be administered. To determine brain volume and characteristic changes representative of micro-bleeding, the first 10 subjects in each treatment group who are willing and able to undergo the procedure will participate in a MRI sub-study. The cranial MRI will be done at baseline and at 24-months post-anticoagulation on this sub-group.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

* Clinical lacunar stroke syndrome.
* Brain scanning\* with MR including diffusion imaging wherever possible, and obtained soon after the presentation with stroke, shows either:

  * a recent, relevant (in time and location) acute lacunar infarct on diffusion MR imaging1,
  * or, if no visible acute lacunar infarct on diffusion MR imaging2 then there is no competing pathology as a cause for stroke (e.g. no acute cortical infarct, no acute intra-cerebral haemorrhage, no stroke mimic such as tumour, subdural haematoma);
  * or, if only a CT brain scan is available2 as in section 3 above, then there is a small relevant (in age and location) subcortical infarct, or if no infarct then there is no competing pathology as a cause for stroke (e.g. no acute cortical infarct, no acute intra-cerebral haemorrhage, no stroke mimic such as tumour, subdural haematoma).

    1. Note that if there is no acute lacunar infarct on MR diffusion imaging but there is a recent-appearing lacunar infarct on FLAIR, T2, or T1 (i.e. no cavitation or ex-vacuo effect; may be slightly swollen, ill-defined edges; or scan in the few weeks before the stroke does not show a lesion but there is an acute lacunar infarct on MR T2, FLAIR, T1 scanning after the stroke in an appropriate area of the brain for symptoms), then the T2, FLAIR, T1 lesion may be counted as the acute lacunar infarct in the absence of a diffusion lesion. Similarly, on CT2 a recent relevant small subcortical infarct would not show cavitation or shrinkage/ex vacuo effect.
    2. Note that about a third of patients with a clinically definite lacunar syndrome do not have a corresponding recent infarct visible on MRI but should still be classed as 'lacunar stroke' if no other explanation can be found for the symptoms. The presence of a recent cortical infarct on FLAIR, T2, T1, the recent timing being indicated by the characteristics above, would count as a competing pathology.

Note that the complete absence of any abnormality on MR or CT brain imaging (no acute subcortical infarct or pre-existing SVD such as white matter hyperintensities, lacunes, etc.) while occasionally seen in lacunar stroke is unusual and should question the diagnosis of lacunar ischaemic stroke.

* Age \> 30 years
* Independent in activities of daily living (modified Rankin ≤2)
* Capacity to give consent themselves

Exclusion Criteria:

* Other significant active neurological illness present since suffering stroke (e.g. recurrent seizures, multiple sclerosis, brain tumour). Well-controlled epilepsy present prior to the stroke, a single seizure at onset of the stroke or provoked seizure is not an exclusion.
* Requiring assistance with activities of daily living (Modified Rankin ≥3)
* Has been diagnosed as having dementia on formal clinical assessment
* Active cardiac disease (atrial fibrillation, myocardial infarction in past 6 months, active angina, symptomatic cardiac failure)
* Diagnosis of hypotension, defined as sitting systolic blood pressure less than 100mmHg
* Definite indication for (i.e. already prescribed) either trial medication, or definite contraindication to a trial drug as per SPCs - lactose intolerance is a contraindication to ISMN preparations which contain lactose monohydrate - (indication for or contraindication to one of the trial drugs still allows randomisation to the other trial drug)
* Unable to swallow tablets
* Bleeding tendency (e.g. known platelets\<100, active peptic ulcer, history of intracranial haemorrhage such as subdural haematoma, subarachnoid haemorrhage, intracerebral haemorrhage, but not asymptomatic haemorrhagic transformation of infarction or a few microbleeds, taking anticoagulant medication)
* Planned surgery during the trial period including carotid endarterectomy. Note prior and apparently successful carotid endarterectomy (or other surgery) is not an exclusion criterion and patients who would otherwise be eligible but require endarterectomy first may be randomised after recovery from successful endarterectomy.
* Other concurrent life threatening illness
* Unlikely to be available for follow-up (e.g. moving outside or visitor to the area)
* History of drug overdose or attempted suicide or significant active mental illness
* Pregnant or breastfeeding women, women of childbearing age not taking contraception. Acceptable contraception in women of childbearing age is a "highly effective" contraceptive measure as defined by the Clinical Trials Facilitation Group (http://www.hma.eu/fileadmin/dateien/Human_Medicines/01-About_HMA/Working_Groups/CTFG/2014_09_HMA_CTFG_Contraception.pdf) and includes combined (oestrogen and progesterone containing) or progesterone-only contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation, or intrauterine device or bilateral tubal occlusion. Contraception must be continued for up to 30 days after the end of the IMP dosing schedule.
* Prohibited medications to either trial drug (see sections 4.5 of the appended SPCs and protocol section 6.6.3, plus no anticoagulant drugs); (prohibited medications to one of the trial drugs still allows randomisation to the other trial drug).
* Renal impairment (creatinine clearance \<25 ml/min)
* Hepatic impairment
* Current enrolment in another Clinical Trial of Investigational Medicinal Product (CTIMP); still in extended follow-up beyond the CTIMP primary outcome and no longer taking that trial's IMP is not an exclusion to enrolment in LACI-2.
* Unable to tolerate MRI or contraindication to MRI (Claustrophobia, Pacemaker)
B: Inclusion Criteria:

* Men and women
* African American and Hispanic persons age 65 or older
* Any person from another ethnic minority group and Caucasian persons age 70 or older
* Willing and able to provide informed consent, and willing to accept the study requirements

Exclusion Criteria:

* A history of a diagnosed cardiovascular event
* A serious intercurrent illness likely to cause death within the next 5 years, such as terminal cancer or obstructive airways disease
* A current or recurrent condition with a high risk of major bleeding, ex: cerebral aneurysm
* Anemia
* Absolute contraindication or allergy to aspirin
* Current participation in a clinical trial
* Current continuous use of aspirin or other anti-platelet drug or anticoagulant for secondary prevention. People with previous use of aspirin for primary prevention may enter the trial, provided they agree to cease existing use of aspirin and understand that they may be subsequently randomly allocated to low dose aspirin or placebo.
* A systolic blood pressure ≥180 mmHg and / or a diastolic blood pressure ≥105 mmHg
* A history of dementia
* Severe difficulty or an inability to perform any one of the 6 Katz ADLs
* Non-compliance to taking pill
C: Inclusion criteria:

Male or female subjects 55 year or older who have suffered an ischemic stroke within the past 90 days and who meet all other inclusion criteria. Include also patients of ages 50 - 54 years and/or 90 to 120 days after the qualifying stroke provided the patient has at least two of the following additional risk factors:

* Diabetes mellitus
* Hypertension (systolic BP ¿ 140 or diastolic BP ¿ 90)
* Smoker at time of qualifying stroke
* Obesity (BMI\>30; BMI=weight (kg)/\[height (m)\]2)
* Previous vascular disease (stroke, MI, or peripheral arterial disease prior to qualifying stroke)
* End-organ-damage (retinopathy, LVH, or microalbuminuria)
* Hyperlipidemia

Exclusion criteria:

hemorrhagic stroke (must be ruled out by imaging);unable to give informed consent; known brain tumor, severe renal or hepatic insufficiency, current active peptic ulcer disease, severe coronary artery disease including unstable angina pectoris or an MI within the previous 3 months,or history of a hemostatic disorder or systemic bleeding ;hyperkalemia;uncorrected volume or sodium depletion; pre-stroke history of dementia;modified Rankin score greater than 4;qualifying stroke induced by surgical or cardiovascular procedure;uncontrolled hypertension at entry above 180/110 mmHg (goal BPs are lower); SBP 120 mmHg or less for hospitalized patients; currently taking an ARB and not able or willing to switch to alternative; required or planned continuing treatment with antithrombotics or anticoagulants including heparin or warfarin or non-study platelet inhibitors; syndrome of asthma, rhinitis and nasal polyps;scheduled for major surgery, carotid endarterectomy, or carotid angioplasty (4 weeks post surgery is allowed);unlikely to be released from hospital following the qualifying stroke or presence of a severe disability likely to lead to being bedridden or demented or a non-vascular disease or condition which makes it unlikely that the patient will survive to the end of the trial; history of thrombocytopenia or neutropenia.
D: Inclusion Criteria:

1. Male or female \>65 years of age.
2. Non-valvular atrial fibrillation documented by electrocardiogram, ambulatory event monitor, or telemetry within 12 months of enrollment.
3. Moderate risk of thromboembolism based upon a CHADS score or CHADS2 Vasc score of ≥2.
4. Ability to complete a mini-mental status evaluation.
5. Ability to independently comprehend and complete a quality of life and dementia questionnaires.
6. Ability to provide informed consent for study participation.
7. Willing and able to comply with the prescribed follow-up tests and schedule of evaluations.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Inability to take an anticoagulant due to known or perceived bleeding risk.
2. Known coagulopathy that may impact the choice, duration, efficacy and safety of anticoagulation therapy.
3. Atrial Fibrillation in the setting of valvular heart disease. Valvular heart disease defined as any surgical valve, mitral stenosis, or moderate-severe valvular heart disease.
4. Severe renal dysfunction, defined as a creatinine clearance rate \<15 mL/min (documented within the last 3 months).
5. History of any form of dementia.
6. A life expectancy less than 24 months.
7. Inability to comply with the follow-up schedule.
8. Current participation in a clinical investigation that includes an active pharmacologic treatment arm.
9. An upper age limit not to be used if participation inclusion criteria are met.
10. Participation in any other clinical trials involving investigational or marketed products within 30 days prior to entry in the study.
11. Other conditions that in the opinion of the Principal Investigator(s) may increase risk to the subject and/or compromise the quality of the clinical trial.
12. Concurrent pharmacologic treatment that is required to treat a condition long-term in which concurrent use of dabigatran etexilate is contraindicated.
13. Treatment with any anticoagulant drug for stroke prevention for more than 30 days.

    * Aspirin and P2Y12 inhibitors (e.g. clopidogrel (Plavix), or prasugrel (Effient)) are not considered anticoagulant drugs.
    * If the subject has received any anticoagulant drug for stroke prevention for less than 30 days, the Principal Investigator(s) or a Co-Investigator will decide whether or not the subject is eligible for this study
14. The Principal Investigator(s) determine(s) that the subject is not eligible for participation in this research study.

Answer: D