Cerebrovascular disease refers to a group of conditions, diseases, and disorders that affect the blood vessels and blood supply to the brain. If a blockage, malformation, or hemorrhage prevents the brain cells from getting enough oxygen, brain damage can result.
Cerebrovascular disease can develop from a variety of causes, including atherosclerosis, where the arteries become narrow; thrombosis, or embolic arterial blood clot, which is a blood clot in an artery of the brain; or cerebral venous thrombosis, which is a blood clot in a vein of the brain.
Cerebrovascular diseases include stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), aneurysm, and vascular malformation.