Cerebrovascular disease is a broad term for conditions that affect the blood vessels in the brain. Common cerebrovascular diseases include stroke, brain aneurysms, bleeding in the brain, and carotid artery disease. A stroke, the most common type of cerebrovascular disease, happens when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. This stops brain cells from getting oxygen and nutrients, which can cause long-term damage. The two main types of strokes are ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke. People who have diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol are at higher risk for cerebrovascular disease.
- In 2018, AI/AN adults were 7% more likely to have a stroke than adults in the U.S. overall.
- In 2022, American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/AN) overall were 23% less likely to die from cerebrovascular diseases compared with the U.S. population.
Occurrence
| Stroke among persons ages 18 and over, age-adjusted percentage, 2018 | ||
|---|---|---|
| AI/AN | Total Population | Ration (AI/AN / Total) |
| 3.0 | 2.8 | 1.07 |
Mortality
| Death due to cerebrovascular diseases, age-adjusted rate per 100,000 population, 2022 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| AI/AN* | Total Population | AI/AN* / Total Population Ratio | |
| Male | 26.8 | 40.5 | 0.66 |
| Female | 32.6 | 38.2 | 0.85 |
| Both Sexes | 30.3 | 39.5 | 0.77 |
*Population is non-Hispanic in the data source.
Date Last Reviewed: January 2026