What is a Brain Aneurysm?
A Brain Aneurysm, also known as a cerebral aneurysm, is a thin and weak spot on an artery that balloons and bulges out filled with blood. The bulge can rupture and burst, causing the blood to leak into the brain and surrounding area. This leakage is called a subarachnoid hemorrhage and can cause a stroke or death. Though these aneurysms can occur anywhere in the brain, they most commonly appear in major arteries along the thin base of the skull. Most brain aneurysms are non life threatening and do not rupture. However, if and when they do, they quickly become alarming and require immediate medical attention.
Importance of Brain Research
Regular brain scans can greatly increase the chance of detecting a brain aneurysm as the symptoms of an aneurysm are almost always dormant or nonexistent. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, “most cerebral aneurysms go unnoticed until they rupture or are detected during medical imaging tests for another condition.”
Brain Aneurysm Statistics
Brain aneurysms are more common in adults ages 30-60 but anyone can have them
The annual rate of rupture for a brain aneurysm is 10 per 100,000 people
Women are more likely to have a brain aneurysm (3:2)
Ruptured brain aneurysms are fatal around 50% of the time
Of the 50% who survive, about 66% experience permanent brain damage
A brain aneurysm ruptures every 18 minutes