Extended Bed Rest After Stroke: A Hidden Threat to Brain Health You Need to Know

After experiencing a mild stroke or a transient ischemic attack (TIA), many people find themselves sleeping more or spending more time in bed. A study published in May 2025 in *Neurology* has found a link between this increased bed time and declines in thinking and memory skills, as well as potential brain changes that could lead to dementia or another stroke.

Extended time in bed—sometimes just lying there instead of sleeping—can indicate sleep disorders. The study noted that individuals who spent more time in bed, whether sleeping or not, showed brain changes that could be harmful. This doesn’t confirm that sleep problems directly cause these changes, but it highlights a concerning connection.

“These findings suggest that poor sleep may signal health issues in the brain, especially for those who have had strokes. While it’s common knowledge that a lack of sleep can harm health, less attention is paid to the consequences of oversleeping or struggling to sleep.”

Joanna M. Wardlaw, MD, University of Edinburgh, UK

The study looked at 422 participants from Edinburgh and Hong Kong, averaging 66 years old, who had recently experienced a mild stroke or TIA. Each participant underwent brain scans, completed sleep questionnaires, and took cognitive tests within three months of their stroke.

Results showed that those who stayed in bed longer were more likely to have damage in brain blood vessels and displayed lower performance on memory and thinking tests. Notably, they had higher volumes of white matter hyperintensities, which are indications of brain damage. Likewise, longer sleep durations were associated with small brain microbleeds.

Dr. Wardlaw emphasized the need for further research. She pointed out that it’s important to explore whether sleep issues affect those who haven’t had strokes and if improving sleep patterns post-stroke could help mitigate some of these effects.

The study served as a cross-sectional snapshot rather than a long-term analysis, meaning it didn’t track participants over time to observe changes. Furthermore, researchers didn’t assess the participants’ sleep quality before their strokes.

This research was supported by the UK Dementia Research Institute at the University of Edinburgh, underscoring the ongoing importance of sleep research in brain health.

For more insights, you can check the press release from the American Academy of Neurology.

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Sleep, Stroke, Brain, Dementia, Neurology, Research, Sleep Disorder, Transient Ischemic Attack