Archive · 29 May 2025
Extended Bed Rest After Stroke Linked to Memory Decline
After a minor stroke or TIA (mini-stroke), spending more time in bed might not be helpful for the brain.
Researchers found that people who spent more time in bed, whether sleeping or trying to sleep, showed worse thinking and memory skills.
These people also showed signs of brain damage.
This doesn't mean that sleep itself causes the problem, but that disturbed sleep may be a sign of issues in the brain.
More research is needed to understand the full picture and if better sleep patterns could help.
Research links more time in bed after mild stroke/TIA with poorer cognitive function.
Study included brain scans, sleep questionnaires, and cognitive assessments of 422 adults.
Spending more time in bed was linked to lower scores on thinking and memory tests.
People with longer in-bed times showed changes in brain that can lead to dementia.
Experts say disturbed sleep may be a sign of adverse brain health in stroke survivors.
- Who
- Adults with mild strokes or TIAs.
- What
- Research indicates that more time spent in bed may negatively affect cognitive function
- When
- One to three months after a mild stroke or TIA.
- Where
- Edinburgh and Hong Kong
- Why
- To investigate the link between sleep and brain function in stroke survivors.
- Study Participants
- 422 adults (average age 66) with mild stroke or TIA
- Study Location
- Edinburgh and Hong Kong
- Main Finding
- More time in bed linked to poorer thinking and memory
- Assessment
- Brain scans and cognitive tests
- Possible Risks
- Changes in brain, dementia, or second stroke
- Study Publication
- Neurology