Mini-strokes may cause surprising long-term health issue, experts warn
Prolonged fatigue could indicate poor sleep habits — but it could also be a lingering effect of mini-strokes.
That's according to a new study from Aalborg University Hospital in Denmark, which was published this week in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN).
A mini-stroke — medically known as a transient ischemic attack (TIA) — is a temporary blockage of blood flow to the brain that causes a "short period of symptoms," according to Mayo Clinic.
The study found that people who experience a TIA are more likely to report prolonged fatigue lasting up to one year.
"Patients with a presumed transient event reported fatigue at levels comparable to a stroke," lead study author Birgitte Hede Ebbesen, PT, PhD, a physiotherapist at Aalborg University Hospital, told Fox News Digital.
The researchers followed 354 people averaging 70 years of age who had experienced a mini-stroke.
Over a 12-month period, the participants reported their level of fatigue in five areas: overall tiredness, physical tiredness, reduced activity, reduced motivation and mental fatigue, according to a university press release.
On a scale ranging from 4 to 20 — with 20 being the most fatigued — the participants reported an average score of 12.3 in the two weeks after the mini-stroke, 11.9 at three months, 11.4 at six months and 11.1 at the one-year mark.
Two weeks after the mini-stroke, 61% reported high levels of fatigue. At three, six and 12 months, 54% said they experienced fatigue.
Those who reported prolonged fatigue were twice as likely to have experienced anxiety and/or depression, the study found. Some also reported
"We had encountered fatigue among patients with TIA in clinical settings, so we knew it was there — but the frequency still surprised us," Modrau told Fox News Digital.
"Long-term fatigue was common in our group of study participants, and we found that if people experience fatigue within two weeks of leaving the hospital, it is likely they will continue to have fatigue for up to a year."
Based on these findings, Modrau suggests that people diagnosed with a transient ischemic attack should be monitored for lingering fatigue in the ensuing weeks and months.
"This could help us better understand who might struggle with fatigue long-term and require further care."
The more commonly known symptoms of stroke include face drooping, arm weakness or slurred speech, which usually resolve within a day, according to Modrau. Some patients also reported long-term cognitive issues.
Bradley Serwer, an interventional cardiologist and chief medical officer at VitalSolution, an Ingenovis Health company that offers cardiovascular and anesthesiology services to hospitals nationwide, confirmed that fatigue is very common — and sometimes "debilitating" — following a stroke.
"Fatigue is multifactorial and can rarely be attributed to a single cause," Serwer, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital.
"Fatigue is multifactorial and can rarely be attributed to a single cause."
The Maryland-based cardiologist shared the following potential reasons for fatigue following a mini-stroke.
Brain healing: "After a stroke, the brain tries to heal itself," Serwer said. "This process causes the brain to work harder to 'rewire' itself, which results in a higher demand for energy. This often leaves patients feeling drained or fatigued."
Increased inflammation: This can occur due to the immune response following a TIA.
Lower levels of neurotransmitters in the brain: Reduced levels of chemicals like serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine can result in depression, fatigue or lack of motivation, according to Serwer.
Sleep disturbances: "These are very common after a stroke and can lead to significant sleep deprivation," the cardiologist said.
Medications: Drugs used to treat strokes may have adverse side effects, including fatigue. "Betablockers are excellent blood pressure medications and are often prescribed after a stroke or heart attack, but they may cause notable fatigue," Serwer noted.
Other factors: "Simple tasks may require more mental effort than before the injury," the cardiologist said. "Depression or anxiety after a stroke can also be a confounding predictor of fatigue."
The study did have some limitations, the researchers noted.
"It is an observational study and therefore we cannot determine causality," Modrau said.
"Results are based on self-reported questionnaires, and we cannot be certain that relatives didn't help fill them out or influence results."
The researchers also did not have information on pre-TIA fatigue levels, although previous studies suggested that it was "much more frequent" after mini-strokes.
Looking ahead, Modrau said she hopes healthcare providers begin to acknowledge lasting fatigue after TIA and provide care pathways for these patients.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health
"Up until now, patients with lasting challenges after TIA have been left alone in many cases," she told Fox News Digital.
"We as a society should start to acknowledge their difficulties instead of viewing them as 'the lucky ones,'" she continued. "My aim with this study has been to give these patients a voice – and to start to listen to their struggles."
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Press release – No. 10 / 2025 Zealand Pharma submits Marketing Authorization Application to the European Medicines Agency for glepaglutide in short bowel syndrome Copenhagen, Denmark, June 2, 2025 – Zealand Pharma A/S (Nasdaq: ZEAL) ('Zealand') (CVR-no. 20045078), a biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of innovative peptide-based medicines, today announced the submission of a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for glepaglutide, a long-acting GLP-2 analog, for the treatment of adult patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS). The submission of the MAA to the EMA for glepaglutide administered twice weekly for the treatment of SBS is based on results from a pivotal Phase 3 trial (EASE-1), supported by interim results from two ongoing long-term extension trials (EASE-2 and EASE-3) and results from a mechanistic trial (EASE-4). 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EASE-4 (NCT04991311) was a Phase 3b trial to assess mechanistic effects of glepaglutide on intestinal fluid and energy uptake. The trial provides evidence of the pharmacodynamic effects of glepaglutide in improving intestinal absorption. In the second half of 2025, Zealand Pharma expects to initiate EASE-5, a single Phase 3 clinical trial that is anticipated to provide further confirmatory evidence for a regulatory submission in the U.S. About Zealand Pharma A/S Zealand Pharma A/S (Nasdaq: ZEAL) ('Zealand') is a biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of peptide-based medicines. More than 10 drug candidates invented by Zealand have advanced into clinical development, of which two have reached the market and three candidates are in late-stage development. The company has development partnerships with a number of pharma companies as well as commercial partnerships for its marketed products. Zealand was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, with a presence in the United States. For more information about Zealand's business and activities, please visit Forward looking statements This press release contains 'forward-looking statements', as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 in the United States, as amended, even though no longer listed in the United States this is used as a definition to provide Zealand Pharma's expectations or forecasts of future events regarding the research, development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products, the timing of the company's pre-clinical and clinical trials and the reporting of data therefrom. These forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as 'aim,' 'anticipate,' 'believe,' 'could,' 'estimate,' 'expect,' 'forecast,' 'goal,' 'intend,' 'may,' 'plan,' 'possible,' 'potential,' 'will,' 'would' and other words and terms of similar meaning. You should not place undue reliance on these statements, or the scientific data presented. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and inaccurate assumptions, which may cause actual results to differ materially from expectations set forth herein and may cause any or all of such forward-looking statements to be incorrect, and which include, but are not limited to, unexpected costs or delays in clinical trials and other development activities due to adverse safety events, patient recruitment or otherwise; unexpected concerns that may arise from additional data, analysis or results obtained during clinical trials; our ability to successfully market both new and existing products; changes in reimbursement rules and governmental laws and related interpretation thereof; government-mandated or market-driven price decreases for our products; introduction of competing products; production problems at third party manufacturers; dependency on third parties, for instance contract research or development organizations; unexpected growth in costs and expenses; our ability to affect the strategic reorganization of our businesses in the manner planned; failure to protect and enforce our data, intellectual property and other proprietary rights and uncertainties relating to intellectual property claims and challenges; regulatory authorities may require additional information or further studies, or may reject, fail to approve or may delay approval of our drug candidates or expansion of product labeling; failure to obtain regulatory approvals in other jurisdictions; exposure to product liability and other claims; interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; unexpected contract breaches or terminations; inflationary pressures on the global economy; and political uncertainty. 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Contacts Adam Lange (Investors) Vice President, Investor Relations [email protected] Neshat Ahmadi (Investors) Investor Relations Manager [email protected] Anna Krassowska, PhD (Investors and Media) Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications [email protected]
