Could your mouth bacteria predict a stroke?

This study looks at whether bacteria in your mouth can influence the buildup of fatty plaques in the neck arteries that supply blood to the brain. Researchers will collect samples from 200 adults having surgery to remove these plaques and compare the bacteria found in the mouth, gut, and plaque itself. The goal is to see if certain bacteria make plaques more likely to rupture and cause a stroke. No treatments are tested—this is purely an observational study to gather knowledge.