Cerebral Atherosclerosis

In cerebral atherosclerosis (synonyms: Cerebral arterial sclerosis; Basilar artery arteriosclerosis; Carotid artery arteriosclerosis; Cerebral artery arteriosclerosis; Vertebral artery arteriosclerosis; Cerebral stromal arteriosclerosis; Central nervous system arteriosclerosis; Arteriosclerotic encephalopathy; Arteriosclerotic brain degeneration; Arteriosclerotic brain disease; Arteriosclerotic cerebral ischemia; Basilar artery atheroma; Carotid artery atheroma; Cerebral artery atheroma; Vertebral artery atheroma; Atherosclerotic encephalopathy; Diffuse cortical degeneration due to arteriosclerosis; Brain atherosclerosis; Cerebral atherosclerosis; Cerebral arterial atheromatosis; Cerebral arteriosclerosis; Cerebral atherosclerosis; Cerebral vascular sclerosis; Carotid sclerosis; Senile cerebral sclerosis (arteriosclerotic); Senile cerebral sclerosis; Spinal arteriosclerosis; Cerebral arteriosclerosis; Cerebral atherosclerosis; Cerebral vascular sclerosis; Cerebral vascular sclerosis; Cerebral vasosclerosis; Cerebral sclerosis; Cerebrospinal arteriosclerosis; Cerebrovascular arteriosclerosis; Cerebrovascular arteriosclerotic disease; Cerebrovascular atherosclerosis; Cerebrovascular sclerosis; Cerebrovascular sclerosis; ICD-10 I67. 2) is a chronic progressive process in which characteristic changes occur in the intima (tunica intima: layer of endothelial cells; inner layer of a vessel) and media (tunica media: layer of smooth muscle cells; middle layer of a vessel) of the arterial wall in the area of the brain. Sclerosis occurs there due to connective tissue proliferation, leading to degenerative-necrotizing changes of the intima, with deposition of cholesterol, fatty acids and calcium.

Sex ratio: males to females is 5: 1.

Frequency peak: The disease begins in adolescence. However, symptoms do not appear until middle to older age. It can be assumed that people over 80 years of age always have atherosclerosis.

Figures on the incidence (frequency of new cases) of cerebral atherosclerosis (arteriosclerosis/ hardening of the arteries) are not known. The incidence of cerebral events (transient ischemic attack, TIA; apoplexy/stroke) is 160-240 per 100,000 population per year.

Course and prognosis: Cerebral atherosclerosis has a slow course. It takes several decades for symptoms to develop due to the vascular changes. The course of the disease can be positively influenced by early therapy. The prognosis depends mainly on the presence of other risk factors such as hypertension (high blood pressure), obesity, diabetes mellitus and tobacco consumption. The most common consequence of cerebral atherosclerosis is apoplexy (stroke).