Cerebral amyloid angiopathy: an underdiagnosed cause of recurrent neurological symptoms

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is a common, yet frequently underdiagnosed pathology characterised by accumulation of amyloid β proteins in the small blood vessels of the brain. As a result, cerebrovascular dysregulation follows, leading to cerebral microbleeds, lobar intracerebral haematomas and sulcal subarachnoid haemorrhages. Gradual motor and cognitive decline due to these brain injuries leads to significant functional limitation in patients. We describe the case of a 69-year-old man requiring multiple hospital admissions with a variety of neurological symptoms. Following imaging of the brain, he was eventually diagnosed with CAA. We present a brief up-to-date literature review on epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical features, diagnosis and treatment options for CAA.