Who is Hereditary Brain Aneurysm Support (HBA Support)?

Hereditary Brain Aneurysm Support is a charity dedicated to helping individuals and families affected by brain aneurysms with a proven or suspected hereditary link. We provide information and support to raise awareness and understand this condition more.

What services does Hereditary Brain Aneurysm Support provide?

Hereditary Brain Aneurysm Support provides information and support for individuals and families affected by brain aneurysms with a proven or suspected hereditary link. We also aim to raise awareness and help people understand brain aneurysms better.

How many people are affected by brain aneurysms?

Approximately 1 in 30 people in the UK have an unruptured brain aneurysm, and about 15,000 people experience a ruptured brain aneurysm each year.

What causes brain aneurysms?

A history of aneurysms in a family increases the risk of brain aneurysm, with unruptured brain aneurysms occurring more frequently in individuals with a strong family history of brain aneurysms. Environmental factors such as smoking and high alcohol consumption can also increase the likelihood of a brain aneurysm.

Are brain aneurysms treatable?

Yes, brain aneurysms can be treated through surgical clipping or endovascular coiling, among other methods. The appropriate treatment depends on the size, location, and condition of the aneurysm as well as the risk of rupture.

Should I get screened for brain aneurysms if they run in my family?

Early detection of brain aneurysms can help manage risks and prevent potential complications, however Screening for brain aneurysms is a personal choice. Some people who are offered screening choose not to know due to the increased worry and anxiety it may bring. Often talking about your risks with specialists and genetic counsellors can help you understand the risks and make an informed choice for yourself.

Hereditary Brain Aneurysm Support in the UK

Mission

Our Goal, Vision & Commitment

Resources

Information, Support & FAQs

Research

Guiding the Future of Research

Supporting people with brain aneurysms and families at hereditary risk of brain aneurysms

Hereditary Brain Aneurysm Support (HBA Support) is the UK's first patient-centred organisation to provide information and support for people affected by hereditary brain aneurysms and their families.

We support people affected by hereditary brain aneurysms, building a community for families that have been given a hereditary brain aneurysm diagnosis or suspect there is a pattern or cluster in their family.

Since 2022, we've been supporting hundreds of people affected, working with the medical, research, and policy communities to improve information and research.

More About HBA Support

What is a brain aneurysm?

A brain aneurysm is a bulge in a blood vessel caused by a weakness in the blood vessel wall, usually where it branches.

How Do Brain Aneurysms Form?

A brain aneurysm develops when blood pressure pushes against a weakened spot in a blood vessel wall. Over time, this pressure can cause the wall to thin and bulge. Think of it like an overstretched balloon. Several risk factors may contribute to this process:

Family history of brain aneurysms
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Smoking
Connective tissue disorders
Head trauma
Age and sex (more common in people over 40 and in women)

Thousands of people live well with brain aneurysms without knowing they carry one. Only when they rupture (burst) can they be fatal or life-changing for the person and their family.

When a brain aneurysm ruptures, it is usually very sudden and without warning and it causes a life-threatening subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH).

Are brain aneurysms hereditary?

Most cases of brain aneurysms are sporadic, meaning they are sudden and have no genetic hereditary pattern.

However, sometimes, cases of brain aneurysms cluster or run in families. This is rare, but it can impact families severely when it happens.

If you have a strong family history of brain aneurysms, there is a 2.3% to 29.4% chance of having an unruptured brain aneurysm, compared with 0.2% - 8.8% of the general population.

Find out more

Information about the risk of Familial or Hereditary Brain Aneurysms

Latest Research

“I didn’t know what support was out there”: What the UK’s largest neurological survey reveals about life with a brain aneurysm

What the UK’s largest neurological survey reveals about life with a brain aneurysm

Exposing the gaps in care for hereditary brain aneurysms

HBA Support launches research reveals shocking gaps in screening and unequal care for people with hereditary brain aneurysms.

HBA Support Responds to NHS 10-Year Health Plan Consultation

HBA Support welcomes the opportunity to share our views on the NHS 10-Year Plan and how the NHS could better screen, support, and treat our

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