Rehabilitation and Prophylaxis of Anomia in Primary Progressive Aphasia
The long-range goal of this study, being carried out in collaboration with Dr. Rhonda Friedman at Georgetown University, is to determine if it is possible to improve word-finding in patients with primary progressive aphasia (PPA). We hope to preserve function prior to decline as well improve word-finding that has already begun to decline. While there has been quite a bit of research attempting to define and classify the PPAs over the past three decades, there has been little research on improving language in PPA. A few single-case treatment studies have been published, but few group studies.
Our study seeks to boost the naming process (which declines early in the course of PPA) by pairing it with processes that sometimes decline later in the course of the clinical syndrome, such as word reading (and word writing). The technique we use relies on the principles of spaced retrieval and paired associate “over learning”.
Individuals who are interested are asked take part in standardized memory, language, and reading tests, standardized depression screening questionnaire, and a general medical screening questionnaire to determine if they qualify for the study. If the therapy is appropriate, based on results from these assessments and background information, individuals begin treatment. These assessments and therapy will be given over a total of 45 sessions during a period of 30 months. These sessions will include 2 initial evaluation sessions, 6 baseline assessments of the therapy stimulus materials, 8 biweekly therapy sessions during the first 4 weeks, followed by 1 therapy session per month in the next 11 months. There are 6 assessment sessions starting at each the following time periods: 12 months, 24 months, at 30 months after the start of therapy. No session will last more than 2-3 hours. In addition, participants are asked to complete home practice with a study partner several times per week and record practice in a logbook. Treatment will consist of naming, repeating, reading and/or writing the names of pictures of objects or family members/friends. Participants return for several additional assessment sessions at 1-year, 2 years, and 30 months.
Participants will also have 3 MRI scans of the brain as part of the study – one at the beginning of the study, a second MRI 1 year later, and a third MRI at the end of the study. These can occur on the same day as another assessment.
This study is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIDCD), R01 DC011317
The long-range goal of this study, being carried out in collaboration with Dr. Rhonda Friedman at Georgetown University, is to determine if it is possible to improve word-finding in patients with primary progressive aphasia (PPA). We hope to preserve function prior to decline as well improve word-finding that has already begun to decline. While there has been quite a bit of research attempting to define and classify the PPAs over the past three decades, there has been little research on improving language in PPA. A few single-case treatment studies have been published, but few group studies.
Our study seeks to boost the naming process (which declines early in the course of PPA) by pairing it with processes that sometimes decline later in the course of the clinical syndrome, such as word reading (and word writing). The technique we use relies on the principles of spaced retrieval and paired associate “over learning”.
Individuals who are interested are asked take part in standardized memory, language, and reading tests, standardized depression screening questionnaire, and a general medical screening questionnaire to determine if they qualify for the study. If the therapy is appropriate, based on results from these assessments and background information, individuals begin treatment. These assessments and therapy will be given over a total of 45 sessions during a period of 30 months. These sessions will include 2 initial evaluation sessions, 6 baseline assessments of the therapy stimulus materials, 8 biweekly therapy sessions during the first 4 weeks, followed by 1 therapy session per month in the next 11 months. There are 6 assessment sessions starting at each the following time periods: 12 months, 24 months, at 30 months after the start of therapy. No session will last more than 2-3 hours. In addition, participants are asked to complete home practice with a study partner several times per week and record practice in a logbook. Treatment will consist of naming, repeating, reading and/or writing the names of pictures of objects or family members/friends. Participants return for several additional assessment sessions at 1-year, 2 years, and 30 months.
Participants will also have 3 MRI scans of the brain as part of the study – one at the beginning of the study, a second MRI 1 year later, and a third MRI at the end of the study. These can occur on the same day as another assessment.
This study is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIDCD), R01 DC011317
