Brain Aneurysm

​Brain aneurysms can occur in all age groups, but has a higher incidence among those aged 40 - 60 and in women. It is more common in people with genetic diseases where multiple cysts grow in the kidney (polycystic kidney disease) and circulatory disorders where abnormal and poorly formed blood vessels tangle together (arteriovenous malformation).

It is not fully known how aneurysms develop but risks include:

• Age
• High blood pressure
• Smoking
• Blood vessel disease where fats build up on the inside of artery walls (atherosclerosis)
• Injury or trauma to blood vessels
• Infections
• Tumour
  
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Recreational drug use (e.g. cocaine)