Weakening of tiny arteries in the brain trigger strokes in a big way. As much as 20 per cent of the strokes could be traced to that factor, a British study finds.
Edinburgh University experts believe the weakening occurs in the protective lining of the small arteries.
It was previously thought the lacunar stroke, occurring in tiny arteries, was caused only by reduced blood flow to the brain. Now it has been shown that when artery lining weakens, it leads to stroke.
The new research, published in the Annals of Neurology, involved two groups of stroke patients - one with lacunar stroke and one with the large artery type.
Both groups were injected with magnetic dye before having brain scans that showed how the dye travelled through their blood vessels.
In the lacunar patients, more dye leaked out of the blood vessels into the brain than was the case in the other group.
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Top 10 Facts on Stroke
Strokes occur when the blood flow to an area of the brain is cut off. It is imperative to detect the signs of a stroke and rush the patient to the hospital at once. Here are some interesting facts on stroke.
Strokes occur when the blood flow to an area of the brain is cut off. It is imperative to detect the signs of a stroke and rush the patient to the hospital at once. Here are some interesting facts on stroke.
Joanna Wardlaw, professor of Applied Neuroimaging at Edinburgh University, said: "This is an important milestone in the understanding of this common type of stroke and dementia.
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Source-Medindia
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