Post-stroke fatigue: new evidence of a possible biological cause

Impaired corticomotor excitability might contribute to the aetiology of post-stroke fatigue, and provide a biological target for treatment. Fatigue after stroke affects around 40% of stroke survivors and is one of the most distressing post-stroke symptoms.1 It may resolve spontaneously over time, but for many patients, it remains a persistent and disabling problem. There are no effective treatments. Stroke survivors, caregivers and health professionals have rated fatigue as one of the top 10 priorities for stroke research.2 Some stroke survivors report that fatigue starts at the time of the stroke, and that the nature of fatigue is unlike any fatigue experienced prior to their stroke. This would be consistent with the hypothesis that the brain lesion itself in some way triggers fatigue.1 However, neuroimaging studies have found no clear association between characteristics of the brain lesion (eg, location, pathological type) and fatigue.
Source: Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry - Category: Neurosurgery Authors: Tags: Long term care, Pain (neurology), Stroke, Mood disorders (including depression) Editorial commentaries Source Type: research