Mini-Stroke Fatigue: Long-Term Effects
- People who experience a transient ischemic attack (TIA), frequently enough called a mini-stroke, may face prolonged fatigue for up to a year, according to research published May 14...
- The research involved 354 participants,averaging 70 years old,who were monitored for a year after experiencing a mini-stroke.Participants completed questionnaires assessing their fatigue levels at the start of the...
- The questionnaires evaluated five types of fatigue: physical, reduced activity, reduced motivation, and mental.Initial average fatigue scores were 12.3.
After a mini-stroke, many experience lasting fatigue for up to a year—a critical finding from teh latest research published in Neurology. This study underscores a significant association between transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), frequently enough called mini-strokes, and prolonged tiredness. Researchers tracked 354 participants, noting fatigue levels over a year via questionnaires assessing physical, mental, and motivational exhaustion. The findings reveal that over half of the participants continued to report enduring fatigue even twelve months after the incident, with anxiety or depression history doubling the risk. Early fatigue assessment is key to identifying those needing extended care. Learn more about the long-term effects and the importance of recognizing this often-overlooked symptom. For more health insights, consider News Directory 3. Discover what’s next for TIA patients.
Lasting Fatigue Common After Mini-Stroke, Study Finds
People who experience a transient ischemic attack (TIA), frequently enough called a mini-stroke, may face prolonged fatigue for up to a year, according to research published May 14 in Neurology.A TIA involves a temporary disruption of blood flow to the brain, with symptoms typically resolving within 24 hours. The study highlights an association between mini-stroke and lasting fatigue, but does not prove cause and effect.
The research involved 354 participants,averaging 70 years old,who were monitored for a year after experiencing a mini-stroke.Participants completed questionnaires assessing their fatigue levels at the start of the study, and again at three, six, and 12 months.
The questionnaires evaluated five types of fatigue: physical, reduced activity, reduced motivation, and mental.Initial average fatigue scores were 12.3. Scores decreased slightly over time, reaching 11.1 at 12 months. Researchers defined fatigue as a score of 12 or higher. About 61% of participants reported fatigue two weeks after their TIA, while 54% continued to report fatigue at each of the follow-up assessments.
Brain scans revealed that blood clot presence did not correlate with long-term fatigue. However, a history of anxiety or depression was twice as common among those with persistent fatigue.
Boris Modrau, MD, PhD, of Aalborg University Hospital in Denmark, said long-term fatigue was common in the study group. modrau suggested that TIA patients should be assessed for lingering fatigue in the weeks and months following diagnosis. This could help identify individuals who may require further care.
A limitation of the study is that some participants may have received assistance from relatives or caretakers when completing questionnaires, potentially influencing their responses.
What’s next
future research should focus on monitoring TIA patients for fatigue in the weeks and months following their diagnosis to better understand who might struggle with fatigue long-term and require further care.