What is the brain aneurysm Kim Kardashian was diagnosed with?

Kardashian subsequently underwent more tests after a small unruptured aneurysm was initially found in her brain. — Ian West Media Assignments/PA Wire/dpa

In a teaser for the latest season (seven, 2025) of the reality show The Kardashians, cast member Kim Kardashian talks about having a scan that detected an aneurysm in her brain.

The clip shows the 45-year-old explaining to the camera that the scan found a “little aneurysm” in her brain, which she suggests might be linked to stress.

We spoke to a couple of experts who outlined the potential risk factors, signs and treatments for this condition.

What exactly is a brain aneurysm?

“A brain aneurysm is a bit like a little balloon on the side of a blood vessel,” explains King’s College Hospital consultant neurosurgeon Dr Ahilan Kailaya-Vasan in London.

“It represents a relative weak point in the blood vessel, and the concern, therefore, is around the potential for them to rupture and bleed, causing an event called a subarachnoid haemorrhage.”

Are there different types?

“Yes, there are different types of brain aneurysm, which are classified by shape, location and cause,” says Dr Kailaya-Vasan.

“For example, a saccular aneurysm is the most common and is sometimes called a berry aneurysm, because it resembles a berry in terms of its shape.

“Then there is also a fusiform aneurysm, which is spindle-shaped, involving the whole vessel circumference and is often due to atherosclerosis, dissection or infection.

“Furthermore, there is a dissecting aneurysm, which is caused by a tear in the vessel wall layers, creating a false lumen, which can occur after trauma or spontaneously.

“There is also a mycotic aneurysm due to bacterial or fungal infection weakening the vessel wall, which is prone to rupture.”

What symptoms might people experience before and after a ruptured aneurysm?

“Most unruptured aneurysms are asymptomatic and are found incidentally on brain imaging,” says Dr Kailaya-Vasan.

“However, in some rare cases, they may cause a headache or eye pain (from pressure on nearby nerves), visual disturbances (blurring, double vision or droopy eyelid), facial pain, numbness or seizures.”

But a ruptured aneurysm has some very distinctive symptoms, as it causes a subarachnoid haemorrhage, which is a life-threatening emergency, he highlights.

“At the moment of rupture, patients typically describe the worst headache of their lives,” he says.

“It comes on like a flick of a switch, at very high intensity, and will remain at that level for an extended period of time, over several days.

“Occasionally, when they rupture, they can cause a significant bleed, which results in an individual having a loss of consciousness or a seizure, for example.

“Sometimes that’s because it’s been associated with a larger blood clot that’s causing pressure on the surrounding brain.

“A third of patients won’t survive that event, a third experience a debilitating stroke, and the remaining third return to their normal levels of activity before the bleed.”

What are the most common causes or risk factors for a brain aneurysm?

“The only known risk factors associated with a ruptured aneurysm are smoking and sustained elevations of high blood pressure, but we think that the majority of them occur sporadically,” says Dr Kailaya-Vasan.

“There is no data to suggest that they’re necessarily related to stress.

“In a small percentage of patients, there may be a genetic association, but we tend to only screen patients who have two first-degree relatives who have had an aneurysm identified and a bleed associated with it.”

How is an aneurysm diagnosed?

“Diagnosis usually begins with brain imaging – a CT [computed tomography] scan can quickly detect bleeding,” says British consultant neurologist Dr Steven Allder.

“For unruptured aneurysms, MRI [magnetic resonance imaging] or CT angiography can visualise blood vessels and identify abnormalities.

“In some cases, a cerebral angiogram is performed – this involves threading a thin catheter through the arteries and injecting contrast dye to map blood flow in detail.

“These tests help doctors determine the size, shape and risk level of the aneurysm to plan treatment appropriately.”

What are the treatment options?

Treatment depends on the aneurysm’s size, location and whether it has ruptured.

“For small, unruptured aneurysms, careful monitoring with regular scans and lifestyle changes may be advised,” says Dr Allder.

“Larger or high-risk aneurysms can be treated with endovascular coiling, where tiny platinum coils are inserted to block blood flow into the aneurysm, or surgical clipping, where a small metal clip is placed around its base.

“In cases of rupture, emergency surgery, intensive care support and long-term rehabilitation are often required.

“The goal is to prevent re-bleeding and protect brain function while minimising future risk.” – By Camilla Foster/PA Media/dpa