Cerebral Atherosclerosis in European Populations: A Preliminary Report

Atherosclerosis in the arteries of the circle of Willis was studied in European populations using a coding technique developed by Baker and his associates. Results from six countries (Finland, Germany, Greece, Norway, Italy, and Poland) were compared with results from Minnesota. The material from the first four countries was coded by the Minnesota team, whereas the material from Italy and Poland was coded by their respective investigators. The frequency of cerebral atherosclerosis was highest in the German and Finnish populations and was lowest in the Polish population. The Norwegian, Greek and Italian populations showed frequencies of cerebral atherosclerosis quite similer to those in the Minnesota material. The average amount of cerebral atherosclerosis was established by determining the median vessel scores by ten-year age groups for the material coded by the Minnesota team. The Finnish population had the highest average involvement; the Finnish, German, and Greek populations all showed higher average vessel scores for cerebral atherosclerosis than the Minnesota population.