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May 10, 2026
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Arterial Widening Identified as Primary Cause of Lacunar Strokes, Study Finds

AI Summary
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh and the UK Dementia Research Institute have found that lacunar strokes are driven by the widening of small brain arteries, not by fatty blockages. The discovery explains the limited effectiveness of aspirin and highlights the need for new microvascular therapies and increased stroke research funding in the UK.

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh and the UK Dementia Research Institute have uncovered that lacunar strokes are driven by the widening of small brain arteries rather than the previously assumed blockage by fatty deposits.

Study Links Lacunar Strokes to Arterial Widening, Not Blockage

The investigation, published on Wednesday, 2026-05-10, examined 229 patients who suffered either a lacunar or a mild non‑lacunar stroke. Advanced neuroimaging revealed that patients with widened small vessels were more than four times as likely to experience a lacunar stroke.

Key Numbers Highlight the Scale of the Issue

  • 35,000 UK residents experience lacunar strokes each year.
  • Lacunar strokes represent 25% of all strokes in the UK.
  • Study cohort: 229 stroke patients.
  • Widened arteries increased lacunar stroke risk by > 4‑fold.
  • Less than 1% of UK research funding is allocated to stroke.

Implications for Treatment and Funding Priorities

The findings explain why common anti‑platelet drugs such as aspirin are less effective for lacunar strokes. Maeva May, director of policy at the Stroke Association, called the research “a potential game‑changer” and urged greater investment, noting that stroke remains the fourth leading cause of death in the UK.

Joanna Wardlaw, professor of applied neuroimaging, emphasized the need for therapies that target microvascular damage rather than large‑vessel atherosclerosis.

Looking Ahead: Targeted Microvascular Therapies and Policy Shifts

Future research will likely focus on drugs that protect or restore the integrity of small brain vessels. Policymakers are being pressed to increase the proportion of health research funding dedicated to stroke, aiming to translate laboratory breakthroughs into clinical practice more rapidly.