Cerebral Aneurysm Epidemiology Summary

• A cerebral aneurysm, also called an intracranial aneurysm, is a localized, blood-filled balloon-like bulge in the wall of a cerebral artery. It occurs due to a weakened area in the vessel wall, usually at arterial bifurcations in the circle of Willis.
• Secondary research suggests that the total number of cerebral aneurysm cases in the US is estimated based on both the prevalence of unruptured brain aneurysms, reported to affect approximately 1 in 50 individuals, and the incidence of ruptured brain aneurysms, which are observed in about 8 to 10 per 100,000 population.
• In Germany, the prevalence of unruptured intracranial aneurysms is estimated to affect around 2 million people, a largely silent condition that poses a serious risk of rupture, with potentially devastating neurological and quality-of-life consequences, which have been converted into incidence estimates through assumptions and calculations to better reflect the annual disease burden and rupture risk.
• In Japan, the prevalence of unruptured intracranial aneurysms is estimated at approximately 4.32%, which has also been converted into incidence cases from prevalence data to better estimate the annual risk and disease burden.
• Despite advancements in imaging technologies, early identification of cerebral aneurysms remains inconsistent, particularly in asymptomatic individuals. The lack of widespread, cost-effective screening tools limits the ability to detect high-risk aneurysms before rupture.
•  Understanding the biological mechanisms that drive aneurysm formation, growth, and rupture is still limited. This gap hinders the development of predictive models for individual risk assessment, leaving clinicians reliant on crude size-based criteria rather than personalized, evidence-driven prognostic tools.

DelveInsight’s “Cerebral Aneurysm Epidemiology Forecast – 2034” report delivers an in-depth understanding of cerebral aneurysm, historical and forecasted epidemiology trends in the United States, EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, Spain), the United Kingdom, and Japan. 

Geography Covered

• The United States
• EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain) and the United Kingdom
• Japan

Study Period: 2020–2034

Cerebral Aneurysm Understanding

Cerebral Aneurysm Overview

Cerebral aneurysms are vascular abnormalities that involve the weakening and ballooning of an artery wall within the brain, most commonly occurring at arterial branch points in the Circle of Willis. While genetic predisposition, hypertension, and smoking are established risk factors, cerebral aneurysms can also develop in individuals without these exposures, reflecting varied individual susceptibility. Unruptured cerebral aneurysms are often asymptomatic and may go undetected, but in some cases, they can cause localized symptoms such as headaches or visual disturbances due to mass effect.

Rupture of a cerebral aneurysm leads to aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), a life-threatening condition characterized by sudden bleeding into the space surrounding the brain. This presents clinically with a "thunderclap headache," loss of consciousness, or neurological deficits. Prompt diagnosis are critical, as aSAH carries high risks of morbidity and mortality.

Rupture of a cerebral aneurysm results in aSAH, a severe condition marked by sudden bleeding around the brain. It often presents with an abrupt, intense "thunderclap headache," potential loss of consciousness, or neurological impairments. Early recognition is vital, as aSAH is associated with significant risks of long-term disability and death. Even in the absence of rupture, unruptured aneurysms demand careful observation due to the potential for unpredictable progression and serious outcomes.

Cerebral Aneurysm Diagnosis

The diagnosis of a cerebral aneurysm is based on advanced neuroimaging, primarily Computed Tomography (CT) angiography, magnetic resonance angiography, or digital subtraction angiography, which detect abnormal ballooning of intracranial arteries. While often asymptomatic, symptoms like headache, cranial nerve deficits, or visual changes may suggest its presence. In ruptured cases, sudden severe headache and neurological decline signal aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Severity is assessed by aneurysm size, shape, and location, with larger or irregular aneurysms carrying higher rupture risk.

Further details related to diagnosis are provided in the report…

Cerebral Aneurysm Epidemiology

The Cerebral Aneurysm epidemiology chapter in the report provides historical as well as forecasted epidemiology segmented by total diagnosed prevalent cases of unruptured cerebral aneurysm, total incident cases of ruptured cerebral aneurysm, gender–specific diagnosed prevalent cases of cerebral aneurysm, and in the 7MM covering, the United States, EU4 countries (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain), United Kingdom, and Japan from 2020 to 2034. 

• Secondary research shows that in the US, females bear a greater burden of cerebral aneurysms compared to males, with a gender ratio of approximately 3:2, indicating a higher cases among women.
• In the UK, the incidence of ruptured brain aneurysms is estimated at approximately 1 in 15,000 individuals, constituting a critical neurological emergency associated with a high risk of long-term disability or death, and a substantial impact on overall quality of life.
• Another key unmet need in cerebral aneurysm research is the scarcity of detailed, region-specific and age-adjusted epidemiological data. This gap limits accurate assessment of at-risk populations, impedes early detection strategies, and challenges the design of effective, targeted healthcare interventions.

KOL Views

DelveInsight’s analysts collaborated with over 50 key opinion leaders (KOLs), conducting in-depth interviews with more than 15 experts across the 7MM. To keep pace with dynamic market trends, the team gathered first-hand insights from KOLs and subject matter experts (SMEs) through primary research, addressing data limitations and reinforcing findings from secondary research. These professionals offered valuable input on the cerebral aneurysm landscape and highlighting patient behavior trends. Contributors included experts from renowned institutions such as the University of Maryland, US; Charité University Hospital Berlin, Germany; Caen University Hospital, France; University of Milan, Italy; Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Spain; King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, the UK; Showa University Hospital, Japan; and Toho University School of Medicine, Japan; among others.

As per KOLs from the US, cerebral aneurysms often remain clinically silent until a sudden rupture occurs, making early detection particularly challenging. Experts emphasize that the disease may progress gradually, with vessel wall weakening over time due to hemodynamic stress and structural degeneration, eventually leading to rupture. This unpredictable course underscores the need for improved screening and risk stratification tools to prevent catastrophic outcomes.

KOLs from the UK emphasize that delayed or incidental diagnosis of unruptured cerebral aneurysms remains a major challenge. Most aneurysms are discovered only during imaging for unrelated conditions, highlighting the need for better screening protocols and risk-based diagnostic algorithms to enable timely intervention before rupture occurs. 

According to KOLs in Japan, What remains underexplored in cerebral aneurysms is the genetic and familial predisposition. Understanding why aneurysms cluster in certain individuals or families could unlock predictive tools and risk stratification models, moving the field toward a more proactive diagnostic paradigm.

Scope of the Report

• The report covers a segment of executive summary, a descriptive overview of cerebral aneurysm, explaining its causes, signs and symptoms, and currently available diagnostic algorithms and guidelines.
• Comprehensive insight has been provided into the epidemiology segments and forecasts, the future growth potential of diagnosis rate, disease progression, and diagnosis guidelines.
• The report provides an edge for understanding trends, expert insights/KOL views, and patient journeys in the 7MM.
• A detailed review of current challenges in establishing the diagnosis.

Cerebral Aneurysm Report Insights

• Patient Population
• Country-wise Epidemiology Distribution
• Total Diagnosed Prevalent Cases Of Unruptured Brain Aneurysms 
• Total Incident Cases Of Ruptured Cerebral Aneurysm 
• Gender–Specific Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of Cerebral Aneurysm 

Cerebral Aneurysm Report Key Strengths

• 10 years Forecast
• The 7MM Coverage 

Key Questions

Epidemiology Insights

• What are the disease risk, burden, and unmet needs of cerebral aneurysm?
• What is the historical cerebral aneurysm patient population in the United States, EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, Spain) and the UK, and Japan?
• What would be the forecasted patient population of cerebral aneurysm at the 7MM level?
• What will be the growth opportunities across the 7MM with respect to the patient population pertaining to cerebral aneurysm?
• Out of the above-mentioned countries, which country would have the highest incident population of cerebral aneurysm during the forecast period (2025–2034)?
• At what Compound annual growth rate (CAGR) the population is expected to grow across the 7MM during the forecast period (2025–2034)?

Reasons to Buy

• Insights on patient burden/disease Incident, evolution in diagnosis, and factors contributing to the change in the epidemiology of the disease during the forecast years.
• To analyze epidemiological trends of cerebral aneurysm across different regions and assess how these patterns may evolve in the coming years.
• Detailed insights on various factors hampering disease diagnosis and other existing diagnostic challenges.
• To understand the perspective of key opinion leaders around the current challenges with establishing the diagnosis options.