Learn about primary progressive aphasia diagnosis; Caregivers Corner
Dear Reader, Just like Alzheimer's disease, primary progressive aphasia, or PPA, is a neurological syndrome, meaning that it will progress and the individual will continue to suffer deterioration of brain cells.
PPA is a type of frontotemporal dementia, a cluster of related disorders that results from the degeneration of the frontal or temporal lobes of the brain. For those living with PPA, language skills progressively decline. Individuals with PPA can have difficulty expressing their thoughts and understanding or finding words. Unlike Alzheimer's disease, memory loss generally occurs later in the disease.
Symptoms begin gradually, often before the age of 65. PPA begins generally with subtle changes in language and progresses to a nearly total inability to speak. PPA usually progresses slowly and individuals can continue to care for themselves and participate in daily activities for many years. Language deficits can differ from patient to patient depending on which part of the left hemisphere is more damaged during any given point. Most individuals will eventually have difficulty understanding spoken or written language and become mute.
As the disease progresses, other cognitive skills, such as memory, are affected; some patients develop movement issues. Individuals may suffer depression. Others might show poor judgement skills, inappropriate behavior in social situation or blunted emotions. Individuals with PPA will need help with day-to-day care.
While individuals who develop aphasia as a result of a stroke or head trauma may benefit from speech therapy, those with PPA will not. Some, however, may learn new communication strategies from speech-language pathologists and families may also benefit from strategies learned in aphasia support/community groups.
Loyola University Maryland offers a monthly support group and "The Connection" newsletter for individuals living with PPA and their caregivers. For more information, contact
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