Brain aneurysms are a relatively common but often asymptomatic condition that can lead to life-threatening hemorrhagic strokes when ruptured.
Even though one in 50 people in the United States have an unruptured brain aneurysm, awareness of the disease – both among medical professionals and the public – trails other pathologies with similar prevalence, including heart disease (one in 20 adults) and stroke (one in 416 adults).
The Brain Aneurysm Foundation (BAF) wants to change that.
Founded in 1994, the BAF is a global leader in brain aneurysm awareness and research. It has provided millions of dollars in grants to support innovative treatments and prevention strategies and played a pivotal role in designating September as Brain Aneurysm Awareness Month.
Christine Buckley, BAF Executive Director and Board President, spoke with Aidoc* about the impact of brain aneurysms, why raising awareness is so critical, and the role AI can play in treatment and management.
*This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What drew you to the Brain Aneurysm Foundation, and what keeps you involved?
Survivors of brain aneurysms often face significant challenges, both physically and mentally. Many will have lasting disabilities that impact their daily lives. They also encounter discrimination from others – especially in the workforce – who don’t see the invisible effects of their injury. Some common disabilities following a treated brain aneurysm may include cognitive deficits like problems with attention, memory, and information processing, visual disturbances, or difficulty speaking.
I volunteered for the organization for eight years and saw firsthand how much survivors and caregivers struggled with a disease that many people don’t understand. When the opportunity came up in 2006 to become the executive director, it was a chance to make an even bigger difference.
There are many personal stories on the BAF website; is there one that sticks out to you that really emphasizes the mission of the organization?
One story that sticks with me is that of Ellie Helton, a 14-year-old who died on her second day of high school. She exhibited signs and symptoms of a brain aneurysm but was not scanned due to her age. We’ve worked with her family to draft Ellie’s Law, which would provide consistent funding for brain aneurysm research.
What are some challenges with brain aneurysm diagnosis and treatment today?
One challenge is that the data is not robust. We don’t have exact answers on when or why an aneurysm forms, if it will rupture or when to treat it. This makes it difficult to level-set standards. Physicians often don’t think of “brain aneurysm” when someone comes to the ED with symptoms.
We need brain aneurysms to be included in differential diagnosis and get people scanned, especially those at higher risk, like female smokers aged 35-60 with high blood pressure. Scanning and treating patients early is more cost-effective than an emergent surgery.
How has the approach to brain aneurysm treatment shifted since you started working with the BAF?
We’ve made progress with treatments, especially with interventions like coils and stents. The focus now is shifting to patient outcomes, realizing that treatment doesn’t always mean a good quality of life. On the research side, blood-based biomarkers could potentially provide a much cheaper and more accessible way to identify aneurysms.
While there’s some progress on all fronts, it’s still not where it needs to be. Surprisingly, there’s still no clear standard for aneurysms like there is for stroke. We need to reach a consensus on when to scan and how to treat. That’s why education is so important for us. Our medical board gives lectures across the country, and physicians’ feedback is that they will change their practice based on the information they learn.
How do you see AI playing a role in the future of brain aneurysm diagnosis and treatment?
We don’t know how to stop an aneurysm from forming, so the best thing we can do is prevent it from rupturing. If we can detect an aneurysm early, we can track it and give patients and clinicians the information needed to decide on the best treatment plan.
AI could be a game-changer for early detection – not only awareness in scans but in learning from patient data and notifying physicians of trends.
There’s a lot of interest within the medical community and among patients about the role AI can play in brain aneurysm care moving forward. The BAF has become the largest private funder of research for brain aneurysms, and we’ve awarded several grants specific to AI this year.
How has Brain Aneurysm Awareness Month helped to raise awareness and support for the cause?
The month allows people to rally in their communities and bring education and awareness directly to their networks, whether it is putting up flyers, having a fundraising walk or staffing a table in a hospital or public space.
Most people we talk to who have been diagnosed or impacted by brain aneurysms don’t know what to do because they’ve never heard the term until it happens. Through these efforts, we reach more people. We secure more funding. We can prevent more ruptures and reduce deaths and disabilities.
People’s lives are devastated by brain aneurysms. This month is a step towards making the term “brain aneurysm” as well-known as “stroke” and “heart attack.”Aidoc is partnering with the Brain Aneurysm Foundation for Brain Aneurysm Awareness Month to raise awareness of early detection and support its ongoing initiatives to advocate for advancements in standards. Learn more about this effort.
