Answer:

A cerebral aneurysm is a condition where a weakened area in the wall of a brain artery abnormally bulges, forming a balloon-like sac due to the continuous pressure of blood flow. When an aneurysm ruptures, blood can leak into the subarachnoid space, causing a brain hemorrhage, which requires emergency medical attention.

Genetics is one of the factors that increase the risk of cerebral aneurysms. Individuals with two or more direct relatives (parents, siblings, or children) diagnosed with a brain aneurysm typically have a higher incidence of this condition. Besides family history, certain hereditary diseases are also associated with a high risk of aneurysm formation, such as hereditary polycystic kidney disease, congenital connective tissue disorders, and congenital vascular malformations.

Patients undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to screen for vascular malformations and brain aneurysms. Illustration: Tam Anh General Hospital

Other risk factors include hypertension, smoking, alcohol consumption, and stimulant use. Among these, smoking and hypertension are considered the two leading causes of brain aneurysms.

However, not everyone with a family history of the condition will develop a brain aneurysm. Doctors determine the need for a cerebral angiogram to screen for aneurysms based on the patient's underlying health conditions, lifestyle, age, and neurological symptoms observed during a clinical examination. If only one relative has been diagnosed and you are otherwise healthy with no other risk factors, regular brain imaging may not be necessary.

If a brain aneurysm is detected, the decision for treatment depends on its size, location, shape, rupture risk, as well as the patient's age and underlying health conditions. In reality, many small aneurysms can remain stable for many years and only require periodic monitoring as guided by a doctor; not every case necessitates immediate surgery or intervention.

You should not worry or self-assess your risk based on family history. Instead, visit a hospital with a neurology department to be examined by a doctor who can evaluate your risk factors and recommend screening if necessary.

Doctor Nguyen Duc Anh

Head of Neurosurgery and Spine Department

Tam Anh General Hospital System in Hanoi