Caption: Cerebrovascular Disease
Text: The term cerebrovascular disease tends to be used to encompass a spectrum of conditions related to the blood vessels supplying the brain. These include occlusive and hemorrhagic strokes, transient ischemic attacks (TIAs - with temporary neurologic symptoms such as blindness), and chronic progressive impairment (dementia and memory loss) due to diminished blood supply.A stroke occurs when the constant supply of oxygen and nutrients to the individual's brain is cut off because the blood vessel either is blocked (occlusive stroke) or starts to leak or ruptures, causing bleeding into the brain (hemorrhagic stroke). That part of the brain that is cut off from its blood supply can rapidly deteriorate due to death of nerve cells.