In a major discovery, scientists from the University of California, Irvine, have found a new reason why tiny brain bleeds—called cerebral microbleeds—happen. This surprising finding changes what we thought we knew.
For a long time, doctors believed these brain bleeds were caused only by damaged blood vessels. But now, researchers say aging red blood cells might also play a big part.
The study was led by Dr. Mark Fisher and Dr. Xiangmin Xu and was published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation.
The researchers wanted to understand what causes these small brain bleeds, especially in older adults and people with health problems like high blood pressure or Alzheimer’s disease. They used a special method to follow red blood cells in the brain.
First, the scientists damaged red blood cells using a chemical called tert-butyl hydroperoxide. This chemical made the cells look and act like old or stressed red blood cells. Then, they marked the cells with a glowing dye and injected them into mice. What they saw was very interesting.
The aged red blood cells got stuck in very small blood vessels in the brain, called capillaries. Then, immune cells in the brain—called microglia—rushed in to fix the problem. These microglia tried to clean up by swallowing the stuck red blood cells. But while doing this, they accidentally caused small brain bleeds.
This discovery is very important. It shows that brain bleeds can happen not just because of broken blood vessels but also because of how the brain deals with damaged red blood cells. This might help explain why older people or people with diseases like stroke or dementia often have brain bleeds.
Dr. Fisher explained that this research could change the way we understand and treat brain diseases. By finding that damaged red blood cells can cause bleeding, doctors and scientists can look for new ways to prevent or treat these problems.
The research team now plans to do more studies to understand how the brain clears out damaged cells from its tiny blood vessels. They also want to learn how this process might be linked to other types of strokes. Their work could lead to new treatments that lower the risk of brain bleeds, especially for people most at risk.
This new idea gives scientists a fresh way to look at brain health. By learning more about what causes brain bleeds, they are getting closer to finding better ways to protect the brain as we age. This research brings new hope for millions of people who live with stroke, Alzheimer’s, or other serious brain conditions.
If you care about stroke, please read studies about how to eat to prevent stroke, and diets high in flavonoids could help reduce stroke risk.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how Mediterranean diet could protect your brain health, and wild blueberries can benefit your heart and brain.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
