New thinking about plaque in arteries that feed the brain

A recent study compared stents versus surgery for treating carotid artery stenosis. Could earlier, better drug therapy prevent the need for those invasive treatments?

January 30, 2026

By Julie Corliss, Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter

Reviewed by Peter Libby, MD, Contributor

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A doctor holds a blister pack of pink pills while talking with a patient; the view is from behind the patient, over the shoulder.

Atherosclerosis, the fatty plaque that accumulates inside arteries, can occur throughout the body. That includes the arteries in the neck that deliver blood to the brain (see illustration). Known as carotid artery stenosis, this condition leaves people vulnerable to serious complications. If the plaque breaks open, a clot may form and travel up to the brain, interrupting blood flow and causing a stroke.

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About the Author

Julie Corliss, Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter

Julie Corliss has been the executive editor of the Harvard Heart Letter since 2013. She also writes for the Harvard Health Letter, Harvard Women’s Health Watch, and Harvard Men’s Health Watch, as well as for Harvard … See Full Bio

View all posts by Julie Corliss

About the Reviewer

Peter Libby, MD, Contributor

Dr. Peter Libby is the Mallinckrodt Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School (HMS) and a cardiovascular medicine specialist at Mass General Brigham (MGB). The author of more than 570 peer-reviewed original publications, Dr. Libby also … See Full Bio

View all posts by Peter Libby, MD

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