Rehabilitation and Prophylaxis of Anomia in Primary Progressive Aphasia

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), National Institute on Aging (NIA), Johns Hopkins University

The goal of this study is to remediate word-finding problems in patients who have Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) or Alzheimer's Disease and to delay the further progression of word-finding impairment. The current approach is novel in that it contains a prophylaxis component in which the investigators attempt to strengthen neural connections that remain functional, making them more resistant to degradation as the disease progresses. While the study is specific in its targeting of word-finding problems, a successful outcome would bode well for other studies aimed at prevention or reversal of declining cognitive functions in dementia. One set of participants with PPA will receive practice with picture naming in two conditions: viewing the picture and repeating the name; and viewing the picture with its written name, plus reading and writing the name. Another set of participants with PPA or Alzheimer's Disease will be trained in two different conditions: learning about the word's semantic features (meaning); and learning about the word's lexical features (letters and sounds). Naming of pictures trained in each of these conditions will be compared, at three time intervals post-training, with naming of pictures tested before the study but never trained. It is predicted that the pairing of the picture with its written name, combined with the motor task of writing the name, will result in a greater ability to name the picture at a later date than simple practice viewing the picture and repeating the name. Furthermore, it is predicted that participants who have difficulty understanding concepts will be more likely to respond to semantic treatment, while participants who have difficulty connecting words with concepts will be more likely to respond to lexical treatment.

This treatment involves learning about the lexical features (letters and sounds) of each trained word.

The change in picture naming accuracy for trained words will be compared with the change in picture naming accuracy for words that were tested at baseline but never trained during the treatment phase.

Change in picture naming accuracy for words within each treatment condition between baseline and first follow-up assessment

The change in picture naming accuracy for trained words will be compared with the change in picture naming accuracy for words that were tested at baseline but never trained during the treatment phase.

Change in picture naming accuracy for words within each treatment condition between baseline and second follow-up assessment

The change in picture naming accuracy for trained words will be compared with the change in picture naming accuracy for words that were tested at baseline but never trained during the treatment phase.

Inclusion Criteria: Diagnosis of Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA; including Frontotemporal Dementia, Semantic Dementia, or a similar condition) or Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease At least 10 years of education Ability to follow spoken instructions Medically stable First language is English, or fluent in English since childhood Willing to participate over a period of two years Exclusion Criteria: No history of additional neurological problems No history of substance abuse or psychiatric problems