"So many confounders, it is hard to know where AF begins and CSVD ends, or how the sequelae of a catheter ablation may contribute to brain function.'

Searching the literature on PUB MED reveals a paucity of articles combining the search of CSVD and Afb. CSVD which occurs independently of Afib shows that Afib is a multiplier of morbidities and not a primary driver of the brain disease. When searching "CSVD Burden" that appears in many articles Afib is not mentioned at all when discussing the various manifestations of CSVD.
This suggests that Afib is not highly associated with CSVD.