What is PPA or Primary Progressive Aphasia?

There is an overlap between PPA and frontal lobe dementia or frontal temporal dementia. (For more information regarding these forms of dementia see the designated articles on dementia and the aging process on this website).

Symptoms are that of memory problems and language losses primarily affected by the understanding of language and the ability to communicate one’s thoughts. This disorder is progressive disorder and affects communication, both received and expressed. The affected person often experiences difficulty with visual spatial functioning, memory processes and executive reasoning deficits.

Symptoms:

• Word finding problems
• Difficulty naming pictures or objects
• Difficulty with reading comprehension and the meaning of words, especially words you used to know
• Problems communicating your thoughts and feelings
• Misuse of words
• Difficulty spelling previously known words