Using image‐text similarity scores from picture descriptions for differentiating the logopenic variant of progressive aphasia from amnestic Alzheimer’s dementia.

Background: Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is a language‐led dementia associated with underlying Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or frontotemporal lobar degeneration pathology. As part of the Alzheimer’s spectrum, logopenic (lv) PPA may be particularly difficult to distinguish from amnestic AD, due to overlapping clinical features. Analysis of linguistic and acoustic variables derived from connected speech has shown promise as a diagnostic tool for differentiating dementia subtypes.

Using image‐text similarity scores from picture descriptions for differentiating the logopenic variant of progressive aphasia from amnestic Alzheimer’s dementia.

Background: Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is a language‐led dementia associated with underlying Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or frontotemporal lobar degeneration pathology. As part of the Alzheimer’s spectrum, logopenic (lv) PPA may be particularly difficult to distinguish from amnestic AD, due to overlapping clinical features. Analysis of linguistic and acoustic variables derived from connected speech has shown promise as a diagnostic tool for differentiating dementia subtypes.

Investigating changes in connected speech in nonfluent/agrammatic primary progressive aphasia following script training.

Script training is a speech-language intervention designed to promote fluent connected speech via repeated rehearsal of functional content. This type of treatment has proven beneficial for individuals with aphasia and apraxia of speech caused by stroke and, more recently, for individuals with primary progressive aphasia (PPA). In the largest study to-date evaluating the efficacy of script training in individuals with nonfluent/agrammatic primary progressive aphasia (nfvPPA; Henry et al.

Speech perception and language comprehension in primary progressive aphasia.

Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive loss of speech and language. Although speech perception and language comprehension deficits are observed in individuals with PPA, these deficits have been understudied relative to production deficits. Recent work has examined receptive language processing at sublexical, lexical, and semantic levels in PPA; however, systematic investigation of these levels of processing within a single PPA cohort is lacking.

An international core outcome set for primary progressive aphasia (COS-PPA): Consensus-based recommendations for communication interventions across research and clinical settings.

Introduction: Interventions to treat speech-language difficulties in primary progressive aphasia (PPA) often use word accuracy as a highly comparable outcome. However, there are more constructs of importance to people with PPA that have received less attention.

Methods: Following Core Outcome Set Standards for Development Recommendations (COSSTAD), this study comprised: Stage 1 - systematic review to identify measures; Stage 2 - consensus groups to identify important outcome constructs for people with PPA (n = 82) and care partners (n = 91); Stage 3 - e-Delphi consensus with 57 researchers.

COS-PPA: protocol to develop a core outcome set for primary progressive aphasia.

Introduction: The term primary progressive aphasia (PPA) describes a group of language-led dementias. Disease-modifying treatments that delay, slow or reverse progression of PPA are currently lacking, though a number of interventions to manage the symptoms of PPA have been developed in recent years. Unfortunately, studies exploring the effectiveness of these interventions have used a variety of different outcome measures, limiting comparability.

Discriminating nonfluent/agrammatic and logopenic PPA variants with automatically extracted morphosyntactic measures from connected speech.

Morphosyntactic assessments are important for characterizing individuals with nonfluent/agrammatic variant primary progressive aphasia (nfvPPA). Yet, standard tests are subject to examiner bias and often fail to differentiate between nfvPPA and logopenic variant PPA (lvPPA). Moreover, relevant neural signatures remain underexplored.

Computer-Based Naming Treatment for Semantic Variant Primary Progressive Aphasia With History of Traumatic Brain Injury: A Single-Case Experimental Design.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a self-administered naming treatment for one individual, B.N., presenting with semantic variant primary progressive aphasia (svPPA) and a history of traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Behavioral Treatment for Speech and Language in Primary Progressive Aphasia and Primary Progressive Apraxia of Speech: A Systematic Review.

Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) and primary progressive apraxia of speech (PPAOS) are neurodegenerative syndromes characterized by progressive decline in language or speech. There is a growing number of studies investigating speech-language interventions for PPA/PPAOS. An updated systematic evaluation of the treatment evidence is warranted to inform best clinical practice and guide future treatment research.

Implementing a telehealth-delivered psychoeducational support group for care partners of individuals with primary progressive aphasia.

Background: Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is a language-prominent dementia that fundamentally impacts the lives of not only the person with the diagnosis, but also their family members. While assuming a caregiving role, care partners are vulnerable to negative health and psychosocial consequences of their own. Support groups are one way to meet the needs of care partners, providing opportunities for individuals with common experiences to socialize, obtain knowledge about disorders, and learn coping strategies.

Network anatomy in logopenic variant of primary progressive aphasia.

The logopenic variant of primary progressive aphasia (lvPPA) is a neurodegenerative syndrome characterized linguistically by gradual loss of repetition and naming skills, resulting from left posterior temporal and inferior parietal atrophy. Here, we sought to identify which specific cortical loci are initially targeted by the disease (epicenters) and investigate whether atrophy spreads through pre-determined networks. First, we used cross-sectional structural MRI data from individuals with lvPPA to define putative disease epicenters using a surface-based approach paired with an anatomically-fine-grained parcellation of the cortical surface (i.

Access, referral, service provision and management of individuals with primary progressive aphasia: A survey of speech-language therapists in Italy.

Background And Objectives: In Italy, approximately 650 individuals receive a diagnosis of primary progressive aphasia (PPA) every year. Unfortunately, the frequency with which patients are referred to speech-language services is suboptimal, likely due to skepticism regarding the value of speech-language therapy in the context of neurodegeneration.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a virtual survey of speech and language therapists (SLTs) across Italy, to collect information about the assessment, intervention and management of patients with PPA.

Baseline structural imaging correlates of treatment outcomes in semantic variant primary progressive aphasia.

Semantic variant primary progressive aphasia (svPPA) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a loss of semantic knowledge in the context of anterior temporal lobe atrophy (left > right). Core features of svPPA include anomia and single-word comprehension impairment. Despite growing evidence supporting treatment for anomia in svPPA, there is a paucity of research investigating neural mechanisms supporting treatment-induced gains and generalization to untrained items.

Counseling and Care Partner Training in Primary Progressive Aphasia.

Purpose: Individuals with primary progressive aphasia (PPA) experience loss of communication abilities in the context of neurodegenerative disease. Consequently, many individuals with PPA endorse negative psychosocial effects, including social isolation, reduced communication confidence, and depression. Incorporating communication-centered counseling early and often within the speech-language pathology treatment framework is a vital component in holistically addressing the multifaceted ramifications of living with this devastating disorder.

Automated Detection of Speech Timing Alterations in Autopsy-Confirmed Nonfluent/Agrammatic Variant Primary Progressive Aphasia.

Background And Objectives: Motor speech function, including speech timing, is a key domain for diagnosing nonfluent/agrammatic variant primary progressive aphasia (nfvPPA). Yet, standard assessments use subjective, specialist-dependent evaluations, undermining reliability and scalability. Moreover, few studies have examined relevant anatomo-clinical alterations in patients with pathologically confirmed diagnoses.

Behavioral interventions for primary progressive aphasia.

Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is a neurodegenerative syndrome characterized by a gradual loss of communication ability. Due to the centrality of communication deficits, speech-language pathologists play a prominent role in the provision of care for individuals with PPA. In this chapter, we outline a person-centered approach to the management of PPA that aims to preserve independence for as long as possible while anticipating future decline in communication and other domains.

Semantic Variant Primary Progressive Aphasia: Practical Recommendations for Treatment from 20 Years of Behavioural Research.

People with semantic variant primary progressive aphasia (svPPA) present with a characteristic progressive breakdown of semantic knowledge. There are currently no pharmacological interventions to cure or slow svPPA, but promising behavioural approaches are increasingly reported. This article offers an overview of the last two decades of research into interventions to support language in people with svPPA including recommendations for clinical practice and future research based on the best available evidence.

Treatment for Anomia in Bilingual Speakers with Progressive Aphasia.

Anomia is an early and prominent feature of primary progressive aphasia (PPA) and other neurodegenerative disorders. Research investigating treatment for lexical retrieval impairment in individuals with progressive anomia has focused primarily on monolingual speakers, and treatment in bilingual speakers is relatively unexplored. In this series of single-case experiments, 10 bilingual speakers with progressive anomia received lexical retrieval treatment designed to engage relatively spared cognitive-linguistic abilities and promote word retrieval.

Embedding Aphasia-Modified Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Script Training for Primary Progressive Aphasia: A Single-Case Pilot Study.

Purpose This study sought to determine the initial feasibility and benefit of a novel intervention that combines speech-language treatment with counseling treatment for an individual with the nonfluent/agrammatic variant of primary progressive aphasia (PPA). Method Using a single-case experimental design, we evaluated the utility of modified script training paired with aphasia-modified cognitive behavioral therapy. The study employed a multiple baseline design across scripts for the primary linguistic outcome measure and a mixed methods approach for analyzing counseling outcomes.