Research links Strokes with Arteries in Brain

by Barbara McPherson | March 13, 2009 at 01:27 pm

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It has long been convention wisdom that strokes are caused by a blockage in the arteries of the brain. New information released by researchers at Edinburgh University point to another cause.

New research shows that the brain damage caused by lacunar strokes – which occur in tiny rather than large arteries – may be caused by a gradual weakening of the artery wall. It was previously thought that this type of stroke was caused only by reduced blood flow to the brain.

The blood vessels of the blood-brain barrier were the ones they particularly investigated. The blood -brain barrier is a protective device that the brain has that keeps many harmful substances from crossing into the brain neurons.