What condition is characterized by a sudden interruption in blood supply to the brain?

The condition characterized by a sudden interruption in blood supply to the brain is a stroke. A stroke occurs when the blood flow to a part of the brain is reduced or cut off, leading to the death of brain cells in that area. This can happen due to two primary reasons: an ischemic stroke, which occurs when a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain is obstructed (often by a clot), or a hemorrhagic stroke, which is the result of a blood vessel bursting, causing bleeding in or around the brain.

Understanding the distinction between a stroke and other related conditions clarifies why stroke is the correct answer. For instance, while a heart attack (myocardial infarction) involves the interruption of blood flow to the heart rather than the brain, a transient ischemic attack (TIA) is often considered a “mini-stroke” and involves temporary blood flow disruption without permanent damage, making it less severe than a full stroke. A brain aneurysm, on the other hand, refers to the bulging of a blood vessel in the brain which can lead to bleeding but is not defined by the immediate disruptive loss of blood supply characterizing a stroke. Thus, a stroke specifically denotes the acute loss of blood supply to brain tissue, leading