Dementia and Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA)

Differential DiagnosisTherapy approaches

The Roles of Speech Language Pathologists

What we think about DEMENTIA

Garbled speech

Impulsive Forgetful

Childish

Defining DementiaDefining Dementia

Dementia- a group of symptoms related to memory, and overall cognitive impairment. Most types of dementia continue to worsen and are irreversible.

•Alzheimer’s Disease- the most common type of dementia. Affects up to 80% of those diagnosed with dementia

•PPA- a form of dementia that involves a decline in language functions.

SIGNS/SYMPTOMS OF DEMENTIASIGNS/SYMPTOMS OF DEMENTIA

• Confusion• Getting lost in familiar places• Problems with personal affairs (housekeeping, finances,

grooming)• Personality changes• Depression• Difficulty following simple directions• Significant memory loss• Decreasing communication skills• Dysphagia • Increased muscle tightness/ rigidity.

• * Progressive loss begins many years before it is diagnosed.

How is Dementia diagnosed?How is Dementia diagnosed?

• A complete medical workup to r/o other causes of cognitive impairment such as drug interaction or multi-infarct dementia ( from several small CVA’s)

• Diagnosis team may include physician, neuropsychologist, SLP, OT, social worker, and family/friends/caregivers

• Testing to evaluate cognitive functioning

Medical history that can lead to dementia

• Huntington’s disease• Multiple Sclerosis-auto immune demyelinating• Infections such as HIV/Aids, Lyme disease• Parkinson’s disease (30-40%) . (new research –

stim. Astrocytes in hippocampus ento rhinal area improved memory)

• Pick’s disease-Tau protein damage• Progressive supranuclear palsy

PPA Diagnosis • How is PPA diagnosed?

• History: assess functionality by interviewing caregivers and family members regarding orientation, memory, executive function

• Medical history and results of other testing : neurological , psychological

• 1. Functional communication assessment ( an interview)• 2. Cognitive Linguistic Quick Test• 3. Aphasia testing• 4. Oral / swallowing fx

• Signs and symptoms

Focal vs Diffuse

• Vary, depending upon the portion of the brain affected.• Some people with frontotemporal dementia undergo

dramatic changes in their personality and become • 1.socially inappropriate,

• 2.impulsive or emotionally blunted,

• **while others lose the ability to use and understand language.

Medications may be prescribed, all have side effects

• To control behaviors :• Antipsychotics

(haloperidol,risperidone,olanzapine)• Mood stabilizers

(fluoxetine,imipramine,citalopram)• Stimulants (methylphenidate• To slow rate of symptoms: • Aricept, Exelon, Razadyne,Namenda

Speech Evaluation + Speech and Language Evaluation:•Since a decline in language abilities is the primary symptom of

PPA

•A Speech-Language Pathologist evaluates different aspects of language in detail and can make recommendations for strategies to improve communication.

•Family members should be included in the treatment sessions to educate them about how to facilitate communication and use functional strategies.

What works?

What doesn'tTalk to familyTalk to family

Speech Evaluation Cont.

The disorder has an impact on :

relationships,

the ability to continue working,

the ability to perform many routine duties, and

the ability to communicate even the simplest of needs.

Although there are many resources available for individuals with memory loss, there are relatively fewer appropriate resources for individuals with PPA, their relatives and friends.

Evaluation with a social worker who is familiar with PPA can address these issues and provide suggestions for dealing with day-to-day frustrations and problems.

We may need to make recommendations for social worker to help them

Brain Scan. MRI studies

• Normal brain PPA Brain

Treatment – Compensatory-Adaptive

• Treatment of Communication Impairments • To improve the ability to communicate AAC? Notebook, post

it's, enlarged calendar

• the type of language problems experienced by patients with PPA may vary, the focus of treatment for improving communication ability will also vary.

• At present, there is no cure for the degenerative diseases that cause PPA. Medical treatments are generally in the realm of managing behavioral symptoms such as depression, anxiety, or agitation, which may occur later in the course of the illness.

Find the strongest Lang modalities

Clinicians are responsible for facilitating cognitive-communicative function

• Direct Interventions- spaced retrieval tasks, graphic and written cues in memory books.

• Indirect Intervention- environmental modifications• Caregiver Training- repeat key information, give

choices rather than open ended questions, keep information/questions short and simple, use written cues for activities (ie: getting dressed, preparing simple meal), encourage attendance at support groups, seek adult day cares for respite to prevent burn out.

Caregivers at home and in the SNFs

Only 7% of the day in conversation

1.Only to do with ADL2.Isolating =3.Less need to communicate4.Diminishing skills>reduced Stim>

What to do as an SLP?

Educate the people around the client

Follow up on interactions

*

Speech Therapy Approaches

•There are 2 basic approaches to treatment for PPA and the dementias that must always include training the caregivers

•1.Direct Treatment: focus treatment directly on ways to improve the functional memory, language, pragmatic skills that are impaired

•2.Compensatory &. adaptive

*It is recommended that both treatment approaches be used with PPA patients. Beginning in early stages of the disease, treatment should be provided to enhance verbal language skills. For example, treatments focused on word-retrieval skills may be helpful.

Treatment focused on the use of augmentative/alternative communication strategies also should be provided, even in the early stages of PPA. These are strategies that either enhance verbal communication or replace it.

What are some examples?

Direct intervention :Calendars

Dry erase boardsLabels in the living spaceVisual memory activities

Auditory memory activitiesVocabulary and sequences associated with pragmatic

skills and ADL

Set up strategies for the future

Small notebook with pictures and words

Apps for communication

Find out the best modality and use it

to assist •Pictures

•Gesturing•Tags around the

house•Consistent

routines

Family or caregiver involvementThe patient (and family members) be trained in augmentative/alternative

communication and functional strategies

such as:

•Use of a communication notebook/ smart pad

•Use of gestures

•Use of drawing

•Share. In simple terms results :•Speech eval•How client uses AAC or other fx adaptive materialsHowever, follow-up treatment with a Speech-Language Pathologist is

important in order to further develop the strategy and provide practice in using it.

Practicing daily routines needs to be emphasized

Areas of cognition to assess and stimulate

1.Orientation - days ,seasons, direction, 2.Attention- focus, ,memory, distractions,

redirectability3.Sequences- ADL, recreation4.Categories - by function, place etc5.Ability to use strategies,communication books

or smart pads

For nonprogressive cognitive loss due to other neurological impairments

Assess functional language and cognition

Follow similar procedure as for PPA

Stimulate cognitive function along all parameters in the areas of cognition

?

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