Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia — accounting for 60 to 80% of cases in the US.
As such, it is easy to forget that there are other types of neurodegenerative disorders. While they may be less common, their effects can be devastating.
Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is a rare form of dementia that primarily impairs language abilities while other cognitive functions remain relatively intact in the initial stages.
PPA, which typically manifests between the ages of 50 and 70, is the type of dementia legendary actor Bruce Willis and former talk show host Wendy Williams have been diagnosed with.
While the exact number is difficult to place, estimates suggest fewer than 50,000 people in the US have primary progressive aphasia.
Unlike Alzheimer’s disease, which often begins with memory loss, PPA’s hallmark is the gradual deterioration of language skills.
It often starts innocently — you pause mid-sentence, struggling to recall a common word.
You might refer to a “knife” as something similar in meaning — like a “cutter” —or inadvertently use a word that sounds similar — such as “wife.”
Over time, forming coherent sentences becomes increasingly challenging, with words jumbled or misplaced.
While there is no cure for PPA, recent research published in the journal PLOS ONE highlights the effectiveness of the Montreal-Toulouse Language Assessment Battery (MTL-BR) in early detection of PPA.
This set of speech and hearing tests can identify subtle language impairments, allowing for earlier intervention.
“The possibility of early and more accurate diagnosis is great news because the earlier treatment is started, the slower the progression of the disease tends to be,” said lead author Karin Zazo Ortiz, a professor in the Department of Speech and Hearing Therapy at the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP) in Brazil.
“The earlier the rehabilitation, the greater the chance that the patient will be able to maintain their communication, speaking, reading and writing skills for longer. But, of course, we’re not talking about a complete diagnosis, just a part of the assessment that can allow us to identify patients who need more monitoring and attention.”
The new study adds to a growing body of research aiming to detect symptoms of dementia before they begin.
