There are several variants. One erodes the ability to find and produce words, another the understanding of what words mean, another the fluency of speech. It is usually a form of frontotemporal degeneration, though some cases are caused by Alzheimer's pathology.
It often begins in the fifties or sixties, while the person is working, and speech and language therapy helps most when started early.
Why it matters
It is frequently mistaken for a stroke or for anxiety, and years can pass before anyone names it.
Sources
Where to check this, and where to read more. All external and all authoritative.
- Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
Primary progressive aphasia where you live
The local guide on this, for each city we cover.
- Baltimore, MD
- Boston, MA
- Buffalo, NY
- Charlotte, NC
- Chicago, IL
- Columbus, OH
- Dallas, TX
- Denver, CO
- Detroit, MI
- Houston, TX
- Los Angeles, CA
- Memphis, TN
- Milwaukee, WI
- New York, NY
- Philadelphia, PA
- Phoenix, AZ
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Tucson, AZ