CAUSES

Brain aneurysms develop silently. Some people may have inherited a tendency for weak blood vessels, which may lead to the development of aneurysms. Aneurysms in children are rare, and most aneurysms probably develop as a result of wear and tear on the arteries throughout a person’s lifetime. Occasionally, severe head trauma or infection may lead to the development of an aneurysm.

 

RISK FACTORS

There are a number of risk factors that contribute to the formation of aneurysms, listed below. Two of the most significant are, fortunately, ones that can be controlled: cigarette smoking and hypertension.​​​

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• Smoking

• High blood pressure 

• Strong family history of brain aneurysms 

• Age (over 40)

• Gender: women have an increased risk of aneurysms

• Race: people of color have an increased risk of ruptured aneurysms

• Other disorders: Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, Marfan syndrome, and fibromuscular dysplasia

• Presence of an arteriovenous malformation. 

• Congenital abnormality in the artery wall.

• Drug use, particularly cocaine

• Excessive alcohol use

• Infection

• Severe head trauma