How Long Does Someone Live With Primary Progressive Aphasia?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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People who have the disease typically live

about 3-12 years

after they are originally diagnosed. In some people, difficulty with language remains the primary symptom, while others may develop additional problems including cognitive or behavioral changes or difficulty coordinating movements.

What are the final stages of primary progressive aphasia?

  • heavily reduced or unintelligible speech.
  • difficulty understanding other people (both with spoken and written information)
  • increased difficulty making complex decisions (around finances and money, for example)
  • difficulty with judgment, planning and concentration, affecting activities such as driving.

Is primary progressive aphasia a form of dementia?

Primary progressive aphasia is a

type of frontotemporal dementia

, a cluster of related disorders that results from the degeneration of the frontal or temporal lobes of the brain, which include brain tissue involved in speech and language.

Does aphasia get worse over time?

As it’s a primary progressive condition,

the symptoms get worse over time

. Usually, the first problem people with primary progressive aphasia (PPA) notice is difficulty finding the right word or remembering somebody’s name.

Is primary progressive aphasia caused by stroke?

Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) is a neurological syndrome in which language capabilities become slowly and progressively impaired. Unlike other forms of aphasia that result from stroke or brain injury, PPA is caused by neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s Disease or Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration

How rare is primary progressive aphasia?

PPA is classified as a rare disease, however, many may be undiagnosed since they might not seek medical help or be misdiagnosed due to the unfamiliarity with PPA. 3 Interestingly,

about twice as many men than women develop PPA

. The average age of onset is between 50 and 70.

How is aphasia different from dementia?

For people who have aphasia, their section of the brain that controls speech

is damaged

. This is usually due to a stroke or traumatic brain injury. Dementia is much different. Although it can be caused by a stroke or brain injury, more often then not, it is caused by a buildup of amyloid plaque.

Is aphasia considered a disability?

There are many different conditions that are disabling.

Aphasia is one

. Social Security Disability programs provide monetary assistance to disabled individuals who are unable to work.

How long do you live with aphasia?

People who have the disease typically live

about 3-12 years after

they are originally diagnosed. In some people, difficulty with language remains the primary symptom, while others may develop additional problems including cognitive or behavioral changes or difficulty coordinating movements.

Does aphasia ever go away?

Can You Recover From Aphasia? Yes.

Aphasia is not always permanent

, and in some cases, an individual who suffered from a stroke will completely recover without any treatment. This kind of turnaround is called spontaneous recovery and is most likely to occur in patients who had a transient ischemic attack (TIA).

When is the PPA to be used?

PPA usually starts

between the ages of 50 and 70

. However, it can also affect older people and rarely, younger people as well.

Can aphasia be caused by stress?


Stress doesn’t directly cause anomic aphasic

. However, living with chronic stress may increase your risk of having a stroke that can lead to anomic aphasia. However, if you have anomic aphasia, your symptoms may be more noticeable during times of stress.

Does aphasia lead to dementia?

There is a specific type of aphasia that is caused by

dementia

– Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA). PPA is the result of brain tissue degenerating, specifically the brain tissue in the language regions of the brain. PPA is most closely associated with Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD).

How can I help someone with primary progressive aphasia?


There are no treatments or cures for primary

progressive aphasia (PPA). A speech-language pathologist may help patients with early stage PPA learn new communication strategies. Some examples include using non-verbal communication techniques such as gesturing or pointing to cards with words, pictures or drawings.

What stage of Alzheimer’s is aphasia?

In Alzheimer’s dementia, the cognitive impairment extends beyond language and typically involves episodic (i.e., anterograde or day-to-day) memory. In

primary progressive aphasia

, gradual deterioration in language skills occurs in the context of relatively preserved nonverbal skills and activities of daily living.

Is Logopenic PPA hereditary?

Genetics. Logopenic PPA can

be sporadic, familial or hereditary

. The majority of cases are not hereditary.

James Park
Author
James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.