Effect of galantamine on verbal repetition in AD: a secondary analysis of the VISTA trial.
OBJECTIVE
To understand how commonly diminution of verbal repetition was a goal of treatment in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD), how commonly that goal was achieved, whether goal attainment might be attributable to galantamine treatment, and whether change in verbal repetition is a marker of the overall treatment response.


METHODS
This is a secondary analysis of the Video-Imaging Synthesis of Treating Alzheimer's Disease study, a 4-month, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of galantamine in 130 community-dwelling patients with mild to moderate AD. The primary outcome was Goal Attainment Scaling, in which individualized problems identified by patients/caregivers and treating physicians were assessed bimonthly.


RESULTS
Reduction of verbal repetition was set as a treatment goal in 44% (n = 57) of randomized patients. More patients/caregivers (32%) set repetition goals than did physicians (18%). After 4 months, more galantamine-treated patients showed diminution of verbal repetition (58%) than did placebo-treated patients (24%; p < 0.01). Reduction of verbal repetition correlated with improvement in clinical measures, but not in standardized ones.


CONCLUSIONS
Reduction of verbal repetition is a common goal of Alzheimer disease treatment. After 4 months, patients treated with galantamine were more likely to experience a reduction of verbal repetition than those treated with placebo. Diminution of verbal repetition was associated with other improvements, suggesting it might be a clinical marker of a positive treatment response.
Rockwood
Kenneth
K
Division of Geriatric Medicine, QEII Health Sciences, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada. Kenneth.Rockwood@Dal.ca
Fay
Sherri
S
Jarrett
Pamela
P
Asp
Elissa
E
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003147:Communication Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005702:Galantamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014741:Video Recording
D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D005702:Galantamine