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Brain Sciences
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Primary Progressive Aphasia: What Happens to Speech and Language? What...
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Primary Progressive Aphasia: What Happens to Speech and Language? What Can We Do to Help?

A special issue of Brain Sciences (ISSN 2076-3425). This special issue belongs to the section "Neurolinguistics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 21 December 2025 | Viewed by 1035

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Monica Lavoie

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Guest Editor
Fondation de la Famille Lemaire, CHU de Québec—Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
Interests: primary progressive aphasia; dementia; speech and language therapy
Dr. Anna P. Volkmer

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Guest Editor
Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London (UCL), London WC1H 0AP, UK
Interests: primary progressive aphasia; dementia; speech and language therapy
Prof. Dr. Jason D. Warren

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
Interests: primary progressive aphasia; dementia; neurology
Dr. Petronilla Battista

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Laboratory of Neuropsychology, Institute of Bari, 70010 Bari, Italy
Interests: primary progressive aphasia; speech & language therapy; cognitive impairment; dementia; artificial intelligence
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Primary progressive aphasia is a neurocognitive disorder characterized by a progressive and predominant decline of language. Our knowledge of PPA has evolved rapidly in recent years, both in terms of our understanding of the condition and treatment as well as support options.

For this Special Issue, we invite researchers to submit manuscripts describing original research and reviews of cutting-edge research on primary progressive aphasia. The aim and scope of this Special Issue will include research on the underlying mechanisms of core symptoms of PPA and research on promising approaches for the management and treatment of PPA, including behavioral, neurostimulation, and pharmacological treatments. We also wish to highlight the importance of interdisciplinary work and the involvement of people with lived experience throughout this Special Issue.

Dr. Monica Lavoie
Dr. Anna P. Volkmer
Prof. Dr. Jason D. Warren
Dr. Petronilla Battista
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Brain Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • primary progressive aphasia
  • language
  • brain
  • communication
  • cognition

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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26 pages, 1276 KB  
Article
Adaptation of Better Conversations with Primary Progressive Aphasia to Norwegian
by Ingvild Winsnes, Monica Norvik and Anna Volkmer
Brain Sci. 2025, 15(9), 994; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15090994 - 15 Sep 2025
Abstract
Background/Objectives: People with primary progressive aphasia (PPA) and their communication partners report that having conversations becomes more difficult over time. They want speech and language therapy to help them have better conversations. Communication partner training has shown promise as an approach for people [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: People with primary progressive aphasia (PPA) and their communication partners report that having conversations becomes more difficult over time. They want speech and language therapy to help them have better conversations. Communication partner training has shown promise as an approach for people with PPA and their communication partners. However, there are currently no communication partner training programs available in Norwegian for people with PPA. The Better Conversations with Primary Progressive Aphasia (BCPPA) is a communication partner training program developed in the UK. In this study, we aimed to culturally adapt the BCPPA to meet the needs of Norwegian people with PPA. Methods: Guided by adaptation elements identified in a systematic review of frameworks for cultural adaptation, we translated the BCPPA into Norwegian before piloting it with four participant dyads, comprising people with PPA and their communication partners. The translated BCPPA was compared to the original BCPPA to identify adherence with core intervention components. Semi-structured interviews were used to explore the acceptability of the intervention to participant dyads. Outcome data, including Goal Attainment Scaling, coding of conversation behaviours from video samples, the Aphasia Impact Questionnaire, and the Communicative Effectiveness Index, were recorded pre-, post-, and three months after intervention delivery to explore outcomes for Norwegian participant dyads. We used the Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications-Enhanced to document the modifications. Results: The results indicate high adherence to the core components in the original BCPPA. The pilot demonstrated that the participant dyads found the BCPPA acceptable, but they made some additional suggestions to complete the cultural adaptation further. Despite the progressive nature of PPA, the participant dyads achieved their goals on the Goal Attainment Scaling, and group analysis demonstrated maintenance on the Aphasia Impact Questionnaire and the Communicative Effectiveness Index over the three time points. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that the Norwegian version of the BCPPA was acceptable to the participants with PPA and their communication partner in this study. As the first communication partner training program for people with PPA and their communication partners in Norwegian, the BCPPA has the potential to be a valuable treatment tool to support people affected by PPA to have better conversations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Primary Progressive Aphasia: What Happens to Speech and Language? What Can We Do to Help?)
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18 pages, 638 KB  
Case Report
Feasibility of Home-Based Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation with Telerehabilitation in Primary Progressive Aphasia—A Case Series
by Anna Uta Rysop, Tanja Grewe, Caterina Breitenstein, Ferdinand Binkofski, Mandy Roheger, Nina Unger, Agnes Flöel and Marcus Meinzer
Brain Sci. 2025, 15(7), 742; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15070742 - 10 Jul 2025
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Abstract
Background: Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is a neurodegenerative disease characterised by progressive impairment of speech and language abilities. Intensive speech and language teletherapy combined with remotely supervised, self-administered transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) may be suited to remove barriers to accessing potentially effective [...] Read more.
Background: Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is a neurodegenerative disease characterised by progressive impairment of speech and language abilities. Intensive speech and language teletherapy combined with remotely supervised, self-administered transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) may be suited to remove barriers to accessing potentially effective treatments, but there is only limited evidence on the feasibility of this combined approach. Methods: This pilot case series investigated the feasibility, tolerability and preliminary efficacy of a novel telerehabilitation programme combined with home-based, self-administered tDCS for people with primary progressive aphasia (pwPPA). The intervention programme was co-developed with pwPPA and their caregivers, to reflect their priorities regarding treatment content and outcomes (i.e., naming, functional communication). Results: Two pwPPA successfully completed the telerehabilitation intervention with daily naming training and communicative-pragmatic therapy paired with tDCS, over 10 consecutive workdays. Caregivers assisted in the setup of equipment required for teletherapy and home-based tDCS. Participants successfully completed the programme with a 95% completion rate. Home-based tDCS was well tolerated. Both participants showed improvements in naming and communication, suggesting preliminary efficacy of the intervention. Conclusions: Overall, this study demonstrates the feasibility and potential benefit of a novel, easily accessible and patient-relevant telerehabilitation intervention for pwPPA, which requires confirmation in a future larger-scale exploratory trial. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Primary Progressive Aphasia: What Happens to Speech and Language? What Can We Do to Help?)
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