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Primary Progressive Aphasia
Primary Progressive Aphasia
(PPA) is a form of dementia
caused by a disease process in the
brain that results in degeneration of
nerve cells that control our ability to
use language. This form of dementia
can occur in individuals as young as
their 40s, but can also appear any
time thereafter.
PPA begins very gradually and
is initially experienced as difficulty
with thinking of common words
while speaking or writing. The
ability to understand what others
are saying or what is being read also
declines. In the early stages, memory,
reasoning and visual perception
are not affected by the disease so
individuals with PPA are able to
function normally in many routine
daily activities. PPA progressively
worsens to the point where verbal
communication by any means is
difficult.
SYMPTOMS
Increased difficulty thinking of words
- Substituting the wrong word (e.g., “school” for “work”)
- Mistakes in pronunciation (e.g., “track” for “truck”)
- Talking around the word (e.g., “We went to the place where you go to get
milk.” for the words “grocery store” )
Reduced ability to understand speech
- Having trouble following conversations, especially in large groups
- Asking for information to be repeated and misunderstanding things that
are said
Decreased use of language
- Speech may become empty of any real information and difficult to
understand early in the course of the illness
- Eventually, there may be an inability to use speech to communicate
Problems reading or writing
- Difficulty reading signs or following written directions
- Inability to write letters or make out checks
Problems in arithmetic and calculations
- May lose ability to perform even simple mathematical operations
- May have problems handling money and making change
TREATMENT
- At present, there is no cure for the degenerative diseases that cause PPA. There
are two basic approaches to treatment, however. The first is to focus treatment
directly on the language skills that are impaired, and the second is to provide
alternative communication strategies or devices.
MORE INFORMATION
Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine
www.brain.northwestern.edu/ppa/handbook.html
Pick’s Disease Support Group
www.pdsg.org.uk/Factsheets/PPAphasia.htm
Mayo Clinic
www.mayoclinic.org/primary-progressive-aphasia/index.html
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