On 28th January 2021, our wonderful Jamie passed away. The previous day, without warning or any symptoms, Jamie fell unconscious at home, and his breathing and heart stopped. His partner Lucy performed CPR and with the help of the paramedics his heart started beating again after 35 minutes. He was taken to hospital and was well cared for in intensive care until it was confirmed that the damage to his brain was irreversible and he would not recover. His loved ones were able to stay with him until the end.

Jamie had a spontaneous subarachnoid haemorrhage, a type of stroke, where bleeding occurs in the brain. This is caused by the rupture of an aneurysm, which is a swelling of one of the brain’s arteries due to a weakened blood vessel. Half of the people with a subarachnoid haemorrhage do not survive, and the half of those who do are left with long-term significant disability. For Jamie, this was an entirely unforeseen event that has shocked and devastated all who loved him.

Jamie was a fit, healthy and happy 31 year old with no major medical problems. He loved life, his girlfriend, his family and his friends. He loved snowboarding, gaming, festivals, history and had dreams of travelling the world, continuing a successful career in software development, getting married and starting a family.

Around 4% of the population have a brain aneurysm, but they are often undetected as they are largely symptomless and there are no screening programmes available to identify them. It is not fully known why some people with brain aneurysms then go on to develop a subarachnoid haemorrhage. This rarely happens but if it does it is often too late for intervention. If an aneurysm is detected early, it can be monitored with the option for surgical intervention to prevent it rupturing.

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Professor of Neurology David Werring works with a research team based at UCL Queens Square Institute of Neurology. One focus of their research aims to understand how and why aneurysms develop and rupture, and what can be done to improve outcomes and recovery. The team recently led the UK contribution to an international study identifying at risk areas of the genome linked to brain aneurysms (link below).

Their current projects include further research into the genetic variants found in those with aneurysms, the risk factors for their rupture, and factors related to recovery after a subarachnoid haemorrhage.

By supporting their research you will be helping to better understand this devastating disease, with the aim to one day be able to prevent wonderful, young lives like Jamie's being taken so early and so tragically.

With huge thanks for whatever donation you are able to make.

UCL Stroke Research Group Page

Article explaining recent study

Recent study by team into Genetics of brain aneurysms