2-Minute Neuroscience: Brain Aneurysms

A brain aneurysm is a weakened area in the lining of a blood vessel in the brain where blood accumulates, causing a bulging of the blood vessel wall. Most brain aneurysms do not cause any symptoms, but a ruptured aneurysm can lead to bleeding into the area surrounding the brain—a dangerous condition known as subarachnoid hemorrhage. In this video, I discuss the characteristics, formation, rupture, and treatment of brain aneurysms. TRANSCRIPT: A brain aneurysm is a weakened area in the lining of a blood vessel in the brain where blood accumulates, causing a bulging of the blood vessel wall. While estimates vary, it is thought that brain aneurysms may occur in somewhere between 2 and 5% of the population. Most brain aneurysms, however, do not cause any symptoms, but larger aneurysms may cause symptoms by putting pressure on brain tissue and in a small percentage of cases, an aneurysm may rupture. The rupture of a brain aneurysm can cause bleeding into the area surrounding the brain---a condition known as suba