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What is a brain aneurysm?
A cerebral aneurysm is a small bulge in the wall of a cerebral artery. It typically develops where vessels branch and the pressure on the artery wall is greatest.
An aneurysm is not a congenital malformation but develops over the course of a person's life – a finding that our research group was able to confirm, among other things, using radiocarbon dating of human aneurysm walls.
How common are brain aneurysms?
Cerebral aneurysms are the most common vascular disease of the brain. Approximately 1 in 15 adults has one – in Germany, that's several million people . The vast majority are unaware of it because an aneurysm causes no symptoms. Today, it is usually discovered incidentally, during an MRI or CT scan, which is typically performed for entirely different reasons – such as headaches or dizziness. Women are affected more often than men (about twice as often) .
Why do aneurysms occur?
Interaction of vascular wall stress, inflammatory remodeling processes and a hereditary component.
The two most important – and modifiable – risk factors are high blood pressure and smoking.
