Follow on Twitter Follow on Facebook
Symptom Search   |   Treatment Search   |   Doctor Search   |   Drug Search
Advertisement

Neurological Disorders Health Channel

Feature Article

Illustrations for this article

Click on an image below to enlarge

Cerebral aneurysm

Cerebral aneurysm

Aneurysm in the brain

Definition

An aneurysm is an abnormal widening or ballooning of a section of a blood vessel. When an aneurysm occurs in the brain, it is called a cerebral aneurysm.

Alternative Names

Aneurysm - cerebral; Cerebral aneurysm

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Aneurysms in the brain occur when there is a weakened area in the wall of a blood vessel. An aneurysm may be present from birth (congenital) or it may develop later in life. (For example, after a blood vessel is injured.)

There are many different types of aneurysms. A berry aneurysm can vary in size from a few millimeters to over a centimeter. Giant berry aneurysms can reach well over 2 centimeters. These are more common in adults. Multiple berry aneurysms are inherited more often than other types of aneurysms.

Other types of cerebral aneurysm involve widening of an entire blood vessel, or they may appear as a "ballooning out" of part of a blood vessel. Such aneurysms can occur in any blood vessel that supplies the brain. Trauma and infection, which can injure the blood vessel wall, can cause such aneurysms.

About 5% of the population has some type of aneurysm in the brain. Risk factors include a family history of cerebral aneurysms, and certain medical problems such as polycystic kidney disease and coarctation of the aorta.

Continue reading this article

More Articles

Migraine (11 Videos, 5 Images) Average Rating: (Doctor-Reviewed information)
A migraine is a common type of headache that may occur with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light. In many people, a throbbing pain is felt only on one side of the head. Some people who get migraines have warning symptoms, cal...Reviewer: Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 07/27/2008
Email

Tension headache (11 Videos, 5 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
A tension headache is a condition involving pain or discomfort in the head, scalp, or neck, usually associated with muscle tightness in these areas.Reviewer: Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 06/19/2008
Email

Cluster headache (5 Videos, 5 Images) Average Rating: (Doctor-Reviewed information)
A cluster headache is one-sided head pain that may involve tearing of the eyes and a stuffy nose. The headaches occur repeatedly every day at the same time for several weeks and then go away. See also: Headache; Migraine headache; Tension headache.Reviewer: A.D.A.M. Editorial Team: David Zieve, MD, MHA, Greg Juhn, MTPW, David R. Eltz. Previously reviewed by Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital (7/22/2009).Date: 07/22/2009
Email

Benign positional vertigo (1 Video) Average Rating: (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Benign positional vertigo is condition in which a person develops a sudden sensation of spinning, usually when moving the head. It is the most common cause of vertigo.Reviewer: Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. Date: 09/27/2008
Email

Stroke (11 Videos, 14 Images, 1 Slideshow) Average Rating: (Doctor-Reviewed information)
A stroke is an interruption of the blood supply to any part of the brain. A stroke is sometimes called a "brain attack." See also: Arteriovenous malformation (AVM)Reviewer: Reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc., and David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Previously reviewed by Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Date: 07/29/2009
Email

Alzheimer's disease (11 Videos, 10 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Dementia is a loss of brain function that occurs with certain diseases. Alzheimer's disease (AD), is one form of dementia that gradually gets worse over time. It affects memory, thinking, and behavior. Memory impairment, as well as problems with l...Reviewer: Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 08/29/2009
Email

Epilepsy (11 Videos, 8 Images) Average Rating: (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Epilepsy is a brain disorder involving repeated, spontaneous seizures of any type. Seizures ("fits," convulsions) are episodes of disturbed brain function that cause changes in attention or behavior. They are caused by abnormally excited electrica...Reviewer: Reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc., and David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Previously reviewed by Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. (6/19/08) Date: 03/29/2009
Email

Seizures (11 Videos) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
A seizure is the physical findings or changes in behavior that occur after an episode of abnormal electrical activity in the brain. See also: Generalized tonic clonic seizure; Partial (focal) seizure; Petit mal (absence) seizure; Epilepsy; Fever (...Reviewer: Reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc., and David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Previously reviewed by Daniel B. Hoch, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. (5/29/2008) Date: 03/29/2009
Email

Multiple sclerosis (11 Videos, 11 Images) Average Rating: (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system.Reviewer: Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 07/04/2009
Email

Parkinson's disease (11 Videos, 3 Images) Average Rating: (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Parkinson's disease is a disorder of the brain that leads to shaking (tremors) and difficulty with walking, movement, and coordination.Reviewer: Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 07/04/2009
Email

Cerebral palsy (11 Videos, 5 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Cerebral palsy is condition, sometimes thought of as a group of disorders that can involve brain and nervous system functions such as movement, learning, hearing, seeing, and thinking. Ther are several different types of cerebral palsy, including ...Reviewer: Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital; and Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 09/16/2009
Email

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (1 Video, 2 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a form of brain damage that leads to a rapid decrease of mental function and movement.Reviewer: Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 08/29/2009
Email

Brain tumor - children (4 Videos, 2 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
A primary brain tumor is a group (mass) of abnormal cells that start in the brain. This article focuses on primary brain tumors in children. See also: Brain tumor - metastatic (cancer that has spread to the brain; Brain tumor - adults.Reviewer: James R. Mason, MD, Oncologist, Director, Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program and Stem Cell Processing Lab, Scripps Clinic, Torrey Pines, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 06/10/2008
Email

Meningitis (11 Videos, 9 Images) Average Rating: (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Meningitis is swelling and irritation (inflammation) of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. This inflammation causes changes in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. See also: Aseptic meningitis; Men...Reviewer: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Jatin M. Vyas, PhD, MD, Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 09/28/2008
Email

Encephalitis (11 Videos, 2 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Encephalitis is irritation and swelling (inflammation) of the brain, usually due to infections. See also: MeningitisReviewer: Jatin M. Vyas, PhD, MD, Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 09/28/2008
Email

West Nile virus (7 Videos, 6 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
West Nile virus is a disease spread by mosquitos. The condition ranges from mild to severe.Reviewer: Linda Vorvick, MD, Seattle Site Coordinator, Lecturer, Pathophysiology, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Jatin M. Vyas, PhD, MD, Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 09/28/2008
Email

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (11 Videos, 7 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, is a disease of the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement. ALS is also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.Reviewer: Sean O. Stitham, MD, private practice in Internal Medicine, Seattle, Washington; and Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 09/11/2008
Email

Spinal muscular atrophy (2 Videos, 1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Spinal muscular atrophy is a group of inherited diseases that cause progressive muscle degeneration and weakness, eventually leading to death.Reviewer: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 12/17/2008
Email

Spinal cord trauma (11 Videos, 5 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Spinal cord trauma is damage to the spinal cord. It may result from direct injury to the cord itself or indirectly from damage to surrounding bones, tissues, or blood vessels.Reviewer: Daniel B. Hoch, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Nuerology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 06/19/2008
Email

Peripheral neuropathy (11 Videos, 2 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Peripheral neuropathy is a problem with the nerves that carry information to and from the brain and spinal cord. This can produce pain, loss of sensation, and an inability to control muscles. "Peripheral" means nerves further out from the center o...Reviewer: Sean O. Stitham, MD, private practice in Internal Medicine, Seattle, Washington; and Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 09/11/2008
Email

Guillain-Barre syndrome (2 Videos, 1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Guillain-Barre syndrome is a serious disorder that occurs when the body's defense (immune) system mistakenly attacks part of the nervous system. This leads to nerve inflammation that causes muscle weakness.Reviewer: Linda Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine; Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 06/24/2009
Email

Spinal cord trauma (11 Videos, 5 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Spinal cord trauma is damage to the spinal cord. It may result from direct injury to the cord itself or indirectly from damage to surrounding bones, tissues, or blood vessels.Reviewer: Daniel B. Hoch, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Nuerology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 06/19/2008
Email

Use Healthline to search the web for more Neurological Disorders information.

Health Videos


Male2: now just looking at that, you cannot tell whether that is a compulsive act as it isthe typical tic is a quick movement of a small part of the body, ...
Email

Play Videoplay video read transcript


Learning to Live with Parkinson's Disease Part 2/2 We really dont know that exact cause of Parkinsons disease but we do know theres an in the brain called ...
Email

Play Videoplay video read transcript


Host: Well, I guess we are hearing something about I think called Tourette syndrome. What is Tourette syndrome? Guest: Tourette is a compulsive motor movem...
Email

Play Videoplay video read transcript


Jeremy: I'm Jeremy. I'm from Los Angeles. I'm 21 years old and I'm wondering, what causes Lou Gehrig's disease and is there anything that can do to treat i...
Email

Play Videoplay video read transcript


Host: Im here today with Dr. Alen Cohen who is the Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery at the Rainbow Babies and Children Hospital in Cleveland Ohio and today,...
Email

Play Videoplay video read transcript


Male Speaker: Mike Powderly knew something was wrong, when just sending an e-mail became physically challenging. Mike Powderly: It was probably the first t...
Email

Play Videoplay video read transcript


Jennifer Matthews: Ali Kutz's head is in the game, but there's something else she is always thinking about, having type I diabetes. Ali Kutz: It's probably...
Email

Play Videoplay video read transcript


I was diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease 15 years ago in 1991. I had had it for a long time and I think most everybody has, that the time youre diagnosed, y...
Email

Play Videoplay video read transcript


How to Live with ALS Disease I get whats going to happen with ALS. I get that theres no known cure right now. I understand completely what happens to your ...
Email

Play Videoplay video read transcript


What Is Multiple Sclerosis The physical problems are obvious. Individuals develop prams walking with dexterity in their hands similar to Philips case. They...
Email

Play Videoplay video read transcript


Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or ALS is often called Lou Gehrig's disease after Lou Gehrig, the famous New York Yankees baseball player who was diagnosed w...
Email

Play Videoplay video read transcript


Male Speaker: Its called Tay-Sachs. What is Tay-Sachs? Why would they be worried about it? Lakshmi Mehta: The Tay-Sachs disease is a severe neurodegenerati...
Email

Play Videoplay video read transcript


Female: because if it is negative, it is reliable enough. Male: It is 400% to 500% more expensive. Female: It is definitely and more sophisticated and you ...
Email

Play Videoplay video read transcript


Host: I have heard about what is called Tay-Sachs. What is Tay-Sachs? Why would they be worried about it? Lakshmi Mehta: The Tay-Sachs disease is a severe ...
Email

Play Videoplay video read transcript


Deep Brain Stimulation Surgery - Tyler's Story Dr. Travis Stork: And we actually sit in our camera, we spent the day with Tyler and his family. So we could...
Email

Play Videoplay video read transcript


What Is Parkinson's Disease Parkinsons disease is neurological disorder that affects nerve cells or neurons in the brain. It particularly affects dopamine ...
Email

Play Videoplay video read transcript


Dr. Leonard Feld: So, a lot of times there are side effects and with every drug and it has disclaimers and they could be doing this, could be doing that, c...
Email

Play Videoplay video read transcript


Vagal Nerve Stimulation for Epilepsy Jenny: My eight-year old and my three-year old have both been diagnosed with epilepsy. They dont have the violent seiz...
Email

Play Videoplay video read transcript


Michael: I had a long recovery and physical therapy to go from wheelchair to walker, to crutches, to cane. Theres no shoe that you could buy of a shelf tha...
Email

Play Videoplay video read transcript


How to Cope with Juvenile Arthritis part 1/2 When I was about one and I started walking, I would be walking around and then suddenly I would collapse. I wo...
Email

Play Videoplay video read transcript


Host: Several disorders combine together where if you see child with Physiatric impairments and enological impairments and theyre associated with certain f...
Email

Play Videoplay video read transcript


Jamie: I am Jamie from Morgantown, West Virginia and my grandmother recently got diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and I was wondering if any current rese...
Email

Play Videoplay video read transcript


Charlie: Hi! My name is Charlie, I am from Denver, Colorado, and I am a big Michael J. Fox fan. I love all of the 'Back to the Future' movies and everythin...
Email

Play Videoplay video read transcript


Kitty: My name is Kitty. I'm from Lansing, Michigan. My question is how can anyone tell they have Parkinson's disease? David Charles: Thanks Kitty. The bes...
Email

Play Videoplay video read transcript


Michael: We spend good part of the day there or half day there while they tend to figure out what it was that I had. Female: My sister called for me in the...
Email

Play Videoplay video read transcript


Host: The human body is an amazing thing, but what king of strength would it take to fight an attack from within? Female: The nurses and the doctors had no...
Email

Play Videoplay video read transcript


Dementia is a chronic state of confusion in which the patient finds it hard to remember, learn and communicate. It is also characterized by the formation o...
Email

Play Videoplay video read transcript


What Myasthenia Gravis Is Male: Quickly see all the differential in this would be Bells palsy. What would they Bells palsy more likely if you spoke to some...
Email

Play Videoplay video read transcript


Jessica Green: For most of us the thought our parents getting sick is unimaginable. But for Susan Hicks this has become a reality. Hick's mother recently d...
Email

Play Videoplay video read transcript


Host: So from all your experience being a pediatric neurologist, you have concerns of a vaccine safety which we understand. There are lot of diseases that ...
Email

Play Videoplay video read transcript