In a major breakthrough, scientists from the University of California, Irvine, have discovered a new reason behind brain hemorrhages, also known as cerebral microbleeds.
This surprising finding challenges the old belief that such brain bleeds only happen because of damaged blood vessels.
Instead, the study shows that aging red blood cells themselves may play a direct role.
The research, published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation, was led by Dr. Mark Fisher and Dr. Xiangmin Xu. Their goal was to better understand what causes small brain hemorrhages, especially in older adults or people with certain health conditions. To do this, they used an advanced method to track red blood cells inside the brain.
The scientists started by using a chemical called tert-butyl hydroperoxide to damage red blood cells, mimicking the effects of aging and stress. These altered cells were then marked with a fluorescent dye and injected into mice. What they observed next was eye-opening.
The aged red blood cells got stuck in tiny blood vessels in the brain called capillaries. Then, special immune cells in the brain, called microglia, tried to clean up the problem. These microglia engulfed the trapped red blood cells, but in the process, this immune response triggered small brain bleeds.
This discovery is important because it shows that brain hemorrhages may occur not just from broken blood vessels, but also from how the body tries to remove damaged red blood cells. This could help explain why older adults and people with conditions like high blood pressure, Alzheimer’s disease, or stroke often suffer from brain bleeds.
Dr. Fisher said the study’s findings could have a major impact on how we understand and treat brain diseases. It points to the damage in red blood cells as a possible cause of brain bleeds, opening new doors for research and treatment.
The research team is now planning more studies to explore how the brain clears damaged cells from its capillaries and how this process relates to other types of strokes. Their work could eventually lead to new treatments that prevent or reduce the risk of brain hemorrhages, especially in people at high risk.
This new understanding is a big step forward in brain health. By identifying a fresh cause of brain bleeds, scientists are closer to developing better ways to protect the brain—especially as we age. It offers hope for millions of people living with or at risk of stroke, dementia, and other serious brain conditions.
If you care about stroke, please read research about Stronger high blood pressure treatment may help prevent stroke in older people and findings of Stroke death risk increases again after falling for 40 years.
For more about stroke, please read research about Research finds a better high blood pressure treatment for stroke patients and findings of Scientists find a better drug than statins for stroke patients.
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