Lacunar Stroke May Not Be About Blocked Arteries

A new Circulation study suggests small vessel stroke may be linked more to abnormal artery widening than large artery plaque blockage.

A new study challenges the usual mental model of lacunar stroke. Researchers found that lacunar stroke and cerebral small vessel disease were not strongly linked to large artery narrowing from plaque.

Instead, they were strongly associated with abnormal widening, lengthening, and twisting of the basilar artery, a condition called dolichoectasia. This do…