A retrospective study was carried out in a general medicine ward of 100 male patients suffering from their first transient ischemic attack (TIA) in order to evaluate the incidence of different cerebrovascular risk factors. The results were then compared with those from another group of 100 patients suffering from initial cerebral ischemic softening (CIS) in order to identify a cerebrovascular risk population taking into account clinical similarities and common and divergent features. The study revealed that age is the prime risk factor in the genesis of TIA, followed by arterial hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. From a comparison with the group of patients affected by initial CIS it was clear that TIA is typical of senility and is more closer correlated to age than other risk factors; therefore, che TIA population is an expression of those who have "survived" cerebrovascular death due to the lesser exposure to risk factors.