Intracranial ASVD

Intracranial ASVD occurs when arteries inside the brain become narrowed or blocked due to fatty deposits called plaque, reducing blood and oxygen supply to critical brain areas and increasing the risk of stroke or transient ischemic attacks. Even small blockages can be dangerous, and treatment is more challenging than blockages in larger arteries outside the brain. Risk factors include high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, high cholesterol, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy diet, older age, and family history of vascular disease. Symptoms may include sudden weakness, numbness, speech difficulties, vision changes, dizziness, or severe headache. Treatment focuses on reducing stroke risk through lifestyle changes, medications such as antiplatelets, statins, and blood pressure or diabetes control, and in selected cases, neurointerventional therapies like balloon angioplasty or stent placement to restore proper blood flow safely.