Effect of galantamine on verbal repetition in AD: A secondary analysis of the VISTA trial

OBJECTIVES: 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.