Brain Aneurysm Causes & Risks

Causes

Aneurysms form in areas where the artery wall becomes thin or weak. Thinning artery walls and resulting aneurysms can be caused by a number of factors. Common causes include:

Congenital (present at birth) weakness in artery wall
High blood pressure
Infection
Trauma or injury to the brain
Tumor
Plaque build-up on artery walls

Risk Factors

These factors increase your chance of developing a brain aneurysm. These risk factors also increase your chance of a rupture. Adults are more likely to develop an aneurysm than children. Females are at slightly higher risk. Tell your doctor if you have any of these risk factors:

Old age
Genetic diseases (circulatory, connective tissue, or kidney diseases)
Family history of aneurysms
Smoking
Heavy alcohol use
Drug abuse
High blood pressure
Tumors
Traumatic head injury
Arteriovenous malformations

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Copyright © 2026 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.