Heart fix may shield brain: FALCON trial tests ablation for memory loss

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients aged 60 to 80 years * Persistent atrial fibrillation * Patients with an indication for cardiac rhythm control. * Montreal Cognitive Assessment score between 18 and 25 points corresponding to mild cognitive impairment * Free subject, not under temporary or permanent guardianship and not subject to subordination * Subject understanding and accepting the constraints of the study * Patient covered by French national health insurance or benefiting from it through a third party * Subject has given written consent to the study after having received clear and complete information Exclusion Criteria: * Impossibility to perform the neuropsychological evaluation (communication problems such as hearing loss or aphasia, language barrier) * History of clinical stroke * Presence of a bruit at carotid auscultation or history of severe carotid stenosis * History or suspicion of neurodegenerative disease (Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis...), bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, severe depression or amyloidosis * Patient with history of previous atrial fibrillation ablation * Patient undergoing flutter ablation or atrial tachycardia ablation (not atrial fibrillation ablation) * Contraindication to atrial fibrillation ablation (intracardiac thrombus, severe pulmonary hypertension, mechanical mitral valve prosthesis or contraindication to anticoagulation,…) * Contraindication to antiarrhythmic drugs, or to implantable cardiac monitor * Patient with very advanced persistent atrial fibrillation, i.e., for more than 3 years or with a left atrial diameter \>60 mm in parasternal long axis section or a left atrial volume \> 48ml/m2 in echocardiography * Subject with a life expectancy of less than 24 months at study enrolment * Inability to consent * Persons benefiting from a reinforced protection, namely minors, persons deprived of liberty by a judicial or administrative decision, adults under legal protection, and finally patients in emergency situations * Pregnant or breastfeeding women, women at age to procreate and not using effective contraception (hormonal/barrier: oral, parenteral, percutaneous implantable, intrauterine device, or surgical: tubal ligation, hysterectomy, total ovariectomy)