EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL 4 PM ET, May 14, 2025
Could a mini-stroke leave lasting fatigue?
Five out of ten people with mini-stroke reported fatigue one year later
MINNEAPOLIS 鈥 A transient ischemic attack, also known as a mini-stroke, is typically defined as a temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain that causes symptoms that go away within a day, but a new study finds that people who have this type of stroke may also have prolonged fatigue lasting up to one year. The study is published on May 14, 2025, online in , the medical journal of the 好色先生 (AAN). The study does not prove that mini-strokes cause lasting fatigue; it only shows an association. 鈥淧eople with a transient ischemic attack can have symptoms such as face drooping, arm weakness or slurred speech and these resolve within a day,鈥 said study author Boris Modrau, MD, PhD, of Aalborg University Hospital in Denmark. 鈥淗owever, some have reported continued challenges including reduced quality of life, thinking problems, depression, anxiety and fatigue. Our study found that for some people, fatigue was a common symptom that lasted up to one year after the transient ischemic attack.鈥 The study involved 354 people with an average age of 70 who had a mini-stroke. They were followed for a year. Participants completed questionnaires about their level of fatigue within the first two weeks of the mini-stroke and again at three, six, and 12 months later. One questionnaire looked at five different types of fatigue, including overall tiredness, physical tiredness, reduced activity, reduced motivation and mental fatigue. Scores ranged from four to 20 with higher scores indicating more fatigue. Participants had an average score of 12.3 at the start of the study. At three months, the average score decreased slightly to 11.9, at six months to 11.4 and at twelve months to 11.1. Researchers looked at how many participants experienced fatigue as defined as a score of 12 or higher. Of the participants, 61% experienced fatigue two weeks after the mini-stroke and 54% experienced fatigue at each of the three other testing time periods at three, six and 12 months. Participants also had brain scans. Researchers found that the presence of a blot clot on a scan was equal between people with long term fatigue and those without it, so this did not explain the reason for the level of fatigue. Researchers did find that previous anxiety or depression was twice as common in those participants who reported lasting fatigue. 鈥淟ong-term fatigue was common in our group of study participants, and we found if people experience fatigue within two weeks after leaving the hospital, it is likely they will continue to have fatigue for up to a year,鈥 said Modrau. 鈥淔or future studies, people diagnosed with a transient ischemic attack should be followed in the weeks and months that follow to be assessed for lingering fatigue. This could help us better understand who might struggle with fatigue long-term and require further care.鈥 A limitation of the study was that while participants were asked to complete the questionnaires themselves, it is possible some responses may have been completed with assistance from relatives or caretakers and this may have influenced responses, including those around fatigue. The study was supported by the Danish Physiotherapy Association. Discover more about stroke at , from the 好色先生. This resource also offers a magazine, podcast, and books that connect patients, caregivers and anyone interested in brain health with the most trusted information, straight from the world鈥檚 leading experts in brain health. Follow Brain & Life庐 on , and .