Key Indicators Of Primary Progressive Aphasia

Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is a neurological condition that causes an individual's language capabilities to become progressively more impaired. Most forms of aphasia are caused by brain injury or stroke, but primary progressive aphasia is related to neurodegenerative illness. It's seen with diseases like frontotemporal lobar degeneration and Alzheimer's disease. The condition occurs when brain tissue related to language and speech deteriorates. The presentation varies between patients, but there are some characteristic signs of the condition.

Difficulty Comprehending Language

Individuals with primary progressive aphasia may have difficulty comprehending language. This symptom occurs when the semantic portion of the brain is affected. In the semantic variety of PPA, patients may have trouble comprehending written or spoken language. It's especially difficult to comprehend or remember the meanings of singular words. In addition to having trouble remembering the definition of a written or spoken word, individuals with this condition may have trouble remembering the names of objects or words to describe them.

It's important to note there are three kinds of primary progressive aphasia, with semantic being just one. If multiple language-processing areas of the brain are affected, patients might have symptoms of multiple types. But a difficulty with language comprehension doesn't present in every patient with this condition.

Difficulty Finding Words

Primary progressive aphasia patients may have difficulty finding words. This symptom is most common in those with the logopenic variant. It may be hard for affected individuals to retrieve words from the brain and communicate. Patients often have trouble finding word substitutions like synonyms and antonyms. When patients speak out loud, they tend to have frequent pauses as they try to find the right words. Individuals with PPA may also have trouble with repeating sentences or phrases spoken to them. Unlike the semantic variety, these symptoms aren't about word associations. Instead, they're about the ability to communicate with any words at all.