A new study has found that fatigue can last for up to a year after a transient ischemic attack (TIA), also known as a mini-stroke. Although symptoms like face drooping or slurred speech typically go away within a day, many people still struggle with long-term tiredness.
The findings were published on May 14, 2025, in the journal Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
A TIA happens when blood flow to the brain is briefly blocked, causing stroke-like symptoms that usually resolve within 24 hours.
“However, some people have reported ongoing challenges such as memory problems, lower quality of life, depression, anxiety—and fatigue,” said Dr. Boris Modrau of Aalborg University Hospital in Denmark, the study’s lead author.
The study followed 354 people, with an average age of 70, who had experienced a mini-stroke. Researchers tracked their fatigue levels over one year using a questionnaire that asked about physical tiredness, overall fatigue, mental fatigue, reduced activity, and lack of motivation. Scores ranged from 4 to 20, with higher scores indicating more fatigue.
On average, participants scored 12.3 for fatigue two weeks after their TIA. That number dropped slightly over time: 11.9 at three months, 11.4 at six months, and 11.1 at twelve months. A score of 12 or higher was considered a sign of significant fatigue.
At the two-week mark, 61% of participants reported fatigue. At three, six, and twelve months, 54% continued to report feeling fatigued, suggesting that symptoms may last much longer than previously thought.
All participants had brain scans, but the scans did not show a difference in clot presence between those with long-term fatigue and those without it. However, researchers did find that participants who had experienced anxiety or depression before their mini-stroke were twice as likely to have lasting fatigue.
“Our study found that if people feel tired shortly after their mini-stroke, it’s likely they will continue to feel that way for many months,” said Dr. Modrau. “This highlights the need for follow-up care that includes screening for fatigue, so we can better support patients who may need more help during recovery.”
One limitation of the study is that while participants were asked to complete the fatigue questionnaires themselves, some may have had help from family members or caregivers. This could have influenced the accuracy of the responses.
The study was funded by the Danish Physiotherapy Association and adds to growing evidence that recovery from a mini-stroke may take longer than expected, even when major symptoms resolve quickly.
If you care about stroke, please read studies that diets high in flavonoids could help reduce stroke risk, and MIND diet could slow down cognitive decline after stroke.
For more health information, please see recent studies about antioxidants that could help reduce the risk of dementia, and tea and coffee may help lower your risk of stroke, dementia.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
