Fact 12: The Relationship Between CAA and Stroke
Another vital aspect of understanding CAA involves its link with stroke. CAA can be a hidden risk factor for strokes, specifically hemorrhagic strokes, which occur when a blood vessel in the brain bursts and bleeds.
CAA’s impact on the brain’s blood vessels leaves them more prone to rupture. When these ruptures occur, they can lead to an intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), a type of stroke with potentially severe consequences. In fact, CAA is one of the leading causes of ICH in older adults.
What makes this link even more critical is the difficulty in predicting such events. Given CAA’s silent progression, an individual may be unaware they have the condition until they experience a stroke.
The correlation between CAA and stroke adds a layer of urgency to the detection and management of this disease. It illustrates the potentially severe repercussions of leaving CAA undiagnosed and untreated.
This understanding also emphasizes the importance of research. By uncovering more about how CAA leads to stroke, scientists can potentially develop strategies to predict and prevent such devastating events. (12)
