health
Lacunar strokes caused by widening of arteries in brain, study suggests
Finding would explain why type of stroke affecting about 35,000 a year in UK is not as responsive to some medication
TL;DR
- Lacunar strokes, accounting for a quarter of UK strokes, are now suggested to be caused by widening of brain arteries, not fatty deposits blocking them.
- This discovery may explain why common treatments like aspirin are less effective for lacunar strokes compared to other types.
- The research, involving 229 patients, highlights the need for new therapies targeting the small vessel disease within the brain.
- Stroke research in the UK is underfunded, receiving less than 1% of total research funding, despite stroke being a leading cause of disability and death.