Two drugs vs. one: the race to stop second strokes

This study aims to find the best medication plan to prevent a second stroke in people who have just had a stroke, also have an irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation), and hardened brain arteries. Researchers will randomly assign about 586 participants to take either one standard blood thinner (apixaban) or that same blood thinner plus an additional anti-clotting drug (clopidogrel) for 30 days. The main goal is to see which approach is more effective at preventing new, silent, or symptomatic strokes, as seen on brain scans, without causing too much bleeding.