How Unruptured Brain Aneurysms Subtly Impact Mood, Thinking, and Actions

How Unruptured Brain Aneurysms Can Subtly Impact Mood and Behavior

An unruptured brain aneurysm occurs when a weak spot in an artery in the brain bulges out. While not as immediately dangerous as a ruptured aneurysm, unruptured aneurysms can still cause subtle neurological symptoms that impact mood, cognitive skills, and daily behavior.

Personality and Mood Changes

The slow leakage of blood from an unruptured aneurysm puts pressure on surrounding brain tissue. This can gradually alter neurochemical balances and lead to shifts in personality or cognition over time such as:

• Increasing irritability or quickness to anger
• More frequent depressive feelings and moodiness
• Growing rigidity in behaviors or perspectives
• Loss of restraint for socially inappropriate actions

Such changes often emerge subtly at first before worsening if the aneurysm continues to leak or grows larger in size over years.

Cognitive Difficulties

Just like mood regulation, cognitive skills stemming from various brain regions can erode from the inflammation and cell damage triggered by blood leaking from an aneurysm site. Potential issues include:

• Concentration problems making reading, calculations, or task focus difficult
• Memory lapses especially with forming new recall or remembering details
• Slower mental processing speed decreasing reaction time
• Impaired judgment and problem-solving abilities

Such cognitive changes often sneak up on someone slowly, initially dismissed as normal aging before worsening through cumulative damage.

Physical Symptoms

While not always present, some unruptured brain aneurysms cause various physical symptoms resulting from blood irritating nerves or tissue such as:

• Chronic headache or neck pain
• Vision changes like blurred or double vision
• Balance problems or dizziness
• Facial numbness or pain
• Hearing loss

These types of sensory or nervous system issues can further exacerbate mood and cognitive difficulties in various ways.

Causes and Risk Factors for Unruptured Brain Aneurysms

Several key factors raise the likelihood of developing an aneurysm that could impact behavior down the road:

Genetics and Ethnicity

Those with a first-degree relative (parent or sibling) with an aneurysm have significantly higher risk of also developing one. Specific ethnic backgrounds associated with higher rates include:

• African American
• Hispanic
• Japanese
• Finnish

If you have family members who've had aneurysms or belong to one of these ethnicities, talk with your doctor about screening.

Gender and Age

Women have a slightly higher likelihood of aneurysm formation compared to men, though men's aneurysms tend to grow faster with a higher chance of rupture. Most aneurysms emerge in people ages 35 to 60.

Unhealthy Lifestyle Choices

Habits that damage blood vessels or increase blood pressure can significantly raise aneurysm risks leading to mood/behavioral symptoms like:

• Smoking
• Heavy alcohol use
• Drug abuse, especially stimulants

Implementing heart-healthy lifestyle changes is key for prevention.

Coping with Personality and Behavior Changes from an Aneurysm

Noticing your temper, concentration, or judgment worsening lately doesn’t automatically equate to having an aneurysm. But major behavior deviations with no other cause may warrant further medical investigation via brain scans.

If imaging does confirm an unruptured aneurysm, how do you manage the emotional and psychological changes that could impact relationships?

Seek Supportive Counseling

Speaking with a counselor trained on how illnesses like aneurysms biologically impact emotions, thinking skills, and behaviors can prove helpful. In sessions, you can candidly address changes you’re experiencing while learning constructive strategies to minimize their severity.

Communicate Openly with Loved Ones

Tell family and friends how subtle bleeding in the brain causes issues like anger or impulsiveness even if it seems out of character for you. Their support and understanding will be key in coping.

You may even want to give loved ones permission to gently point out mood swings as you work on self-management.

Prioritize Stress Reduction

High stress levels exacerbate aneurysm risks and side effects. Activities like yoga, meditation, massage, or counseling help you maintain an even keel despite personality and cognitive changes.

Protecting your emotional wellbeing aids the physical healing process.

Weighing Treatment Options for Unruptured Aneurysms

Upon discovering an unruptured aneurysm, talk through these key treatment factors with your medical team:

• Location – Certain areas like near optic nerves complicate surgery.
• Size – Under 7mm wide may just require scanning vs over 7mm could need surgery.
• Shape – Irregular aneurysms have higher rupture risk.
• Symptoms – Worsening neurological signs could dictate intervention.

Advanced minimally-invasive procedures aid many cases, but traditional surgery still necessary for some complex aneurysms.

Potential Treatment Side Effects

The procedures that clip or coil an aneurysm closed themselves also risk various side effects including:

• Short-term pain, fatigue, or headaches
• Stroke risk from blood vessel damage
• Leakage or long-term issues if aneurysm recurs
• Infection from implants
• Numbness, speech issues, or vision changes

Talk through your best options balancing rupture risks with potential intervention side effects.

Preparing Emotionally Despite Uncertainty with Brain Aneurysms

Dealing with the ups and downs of physical symptoms, cognitive changes, and mood swings poses unique coping challenges for both aneurysm patients and loved ones.

From possible emergency surgical decisions if rupture strikes to simply managing strained relationships amid day-to-day behavioral deviations, maintaining compassionate patience and open dialogue lays the groundwork for the best possible outcome during a difficult diagnosis.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.