TIAs, commonly dismissed as fleeting “mini-strokes,” may leave a lasting mark, according to a new study from Aalborg University Hospital. The research reveals that chronic fatigue lingers long after other symptoms disappear, challenging the traditional view of TIAs as brief and harmless events.
Re-Evaluating Long-Term Impact of TIAs
New findings point to longer-term consequences though TIAs typically last minutes or hours. The researchers found that “at baseline, just over 61% of participants had pathologic fatigue. among 287 adults followed after a TIA.” After a year, “53.8% of participants reported pathologic fatigue.”
The persistence of symptoms was striking: “over 60% of participants who experienced pathologic fatigue at baseline reported pathologic fatigue 12 months later,” while just 22.5% of those initially unaffected developed fatigue during the study period.
Persistent Fatigue Not Linked to Infarction
Researchers used MRI scans to explore whether visible brain injury could explain the persistent fatigue. Surprisingly, it could not. “The proportion of participants who experienced acute infarction was lower among those who experienced fatigue compared with those who did not experience fatigue,” the report found.
Additionally, previous mental health struggles were found to be an influencing factor: “Previous anxiety or depression was twice as common in the group that reported baseline fatigue.”
The findings suggest that standard imaging and clinical evaluations may miss a critical aspect of TIA recovery. “Acute ischaemic lesions alone are not reliable predictors of post-TIA fatigue,” researchers concluded.
Clinical Experts Urge Updated Post-TIA Protocols
Medical experts not involved in the study say the findings could shift how clinicians approach TIA recovery. Christopher Yi, MD, noted: “This study offers a new perspective on the lingering effects of transient ischaemic attacks, which were traditionally thought to have no long-term consequences. This may add a new dimension to our approach to the management and workup of chronic fatigue.”
Cheng-Han Chen, MD, echoed the sentiment: “By identifying the patients who develop fatigue soon after a ransient ischaemic attack, we are better able to focus our efforts to support these patients to manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.”
Highlighting the Need for Proactive Symptom Monitoring
TIAs, like silent strokes, often go unnoticed. Many individuals may not recognise symptoms—or experience none at all.
Diagnosis relies on timely brain scans and clinical evaluations. But the subtle and sometimes invisible nature of these events adds urgency to the need for better screening and follow-up strategies.
While treatment for TIAs typically focuses on medication and lifestyle changes, new research suggests an important element is being overlooked. The study’s authors are calling for fatigue to be routinely addressed during follow-up care, stating: “Fatigue should be proactively assessed during follow-ups after a transient ischaemic attack, even in patients who seem neurologically intact.”