Lancet neurology
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Retention of upper limb function in stroke survivors who have received constraint-induced movement therapy: the EXCITE randomised trial.
The aim of constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) is to promote use of a limb that is functionally impaired after a stroke. In one form of CIMT to treat upper limb impairment, use of the less severely affected arm is restricted for many hours each weekday over 2 consecutive weeks. The EXCITE trial has previously shown the efficacy of this intervention for patients 3-9 months poststroke who were followed-up for the next 12 months. We assessed the retention of improvements 24 months after the intervention. ⋯ Patients who have mild to moderate impairments 3-9 months poststroke have substantial improvement in functional use of the paretic upper limb and quality of life 2 years after a 2-week CIMT intervention. Thus, this intervention has persistent benefits.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Aspirin in Alzheimer's disease (AD2000): a randomised open-label trial.
Cardiovascular risk factors and a history of vascular disease can increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD is less common in aspirin users than non-users, and there are plausible biological mechanisms whereby aspirin might slow the progression of either vascular or Alzheimer-type pathology. We assessed the benefits of aspirin in patients with AD. ⋯ Although aspirin is commonly used in dementia, in patients with typical AD 2 years of treatment with low-dose aspirin has no worthwhile benefit and increases the risk of serious bleeds.