A randomized, controlled trial reports that Tai chi appears to be better than stretching exercises or resistance training in patients with Parkinson’s disease for improving balance and reducing the risk of falls (Li et al. N Engl J Med 2012;366:511-519).
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Quetiapine or lithium effective for maintenance in bipolar I disorder
May 16, 2012Patients with bipolar I disorder stabilized on quetiapine can be maintained on the drug as monotherapy or switched to lithium during the maintenance phase, according to the results of a two-year double-blind trial (Weisler et al. J Clin Psychiatry 2011;72:1452-1464).
High cost of MS in Canada
May 16, 2012The Treatment Experience, Burden, and Unmet Needs (TRIBUNE) study is a cross-sectional observational study of the cost of MS in Canada and five European countries. According to the Canadian estimate, the mean annual cost was $30,836 per MS patient with mild disability (EDSS < 3), $46,622 per patient with moderate disability (EDSS 4-6.5), and $77,981 per patient with severe disability (EDSS score 7-9) (Karampampa et al. J Popul Ther Clin Pharmacol 2012;19:e11-25; free full text at www.jptcp.com/jptcp11072e11_e25_karampampa-pdf-r180364). The estimated cost per relapse for an RRMS patient (EDSS < 5) was $10,512.
AD patients at high risk of falls
May 16, 2012An Australian study reports that patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease are at increased risk of falls compared to age-matched controls (Suttanon et al. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2012;91:12-23).