Senile cerebral amyloid angiopathy

Alternative names:

amyloidosis - cerebral

Definition:

A condition characterized by deposits of amyloid protein in the walls of the brain arteries, which increases the risk of bleeding into the brain

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Senile cerebral amyloid angiopathy is a common cause of lobar intracerebral hemorrhage (bleeding in a localized area of the brain) in the elderly. There may be multiple episodes of hemorrhage, which may occur over many months. The symptoms occur because of bleeding in the brain.

The cause is unknown. Amyloid protein is deposited in the arterial walls of the brain, and there are often no deposits elsewhere in the body.

The major risk factor is age. The incidence is much greater in people older than 60. The overall incidence is 2 out of 10,000 people.