Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA)
Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) is a condition caused by gradual damage to the areas of the brain that control language. People with PPA often have difficulty finding words, understanding conversations and reading and writing.
As the name suggests, this type of aphasia begins very subtly and progresses over time. The first sign is usually difficulty naming objects and people.
PPA is caused by degeneration in the brain, and so it is characterised as a type of dementia. Memory loss and personality change may occur in the later stages of the disease.
There are several sub-types of progressive aphasia:
- Semantic dementia – Where people have difficulty remembering the meaning of words;
- Progressive non-fluent aphasia – People find it harder to speak and make mistakes in how they say words and sentences;
- Logopenic aphasia – People have trouble finding the words they want to use.
Watch a discussion with international expert Dr Anna Volkmer here.
The websites below all have information about PPA:
National Aphasia Association (NAA)
The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD)
Help and support in New Zealand is provided by:
- AphasiaNZ – Community Aphasia Advisors can provide support. We have an information booklet specifically for PPA.
- Dementia New Zealand / Phone: 0800 433 636
- Alzheimer’s New Zealand / Phone: 0800 004 001
AphasiaNZ has two online support groups running regularly. One is for people with PPA and their family members. The other group is just for spouses/partners/carers of people with PPA. Read more about the benefits of peer support in this partner’s group here. Contact us to find out more.
We also have a help sheet for friends of people with PPA – this is to help maintain your friendship and gives communication tips. You can find that here.
Speech-Language Therapy (SLT)
Speech-Language Therapists may help by providing communication advice and strategies. Therapy cannot reverse the effect of the degeneration. Some Health NZ providers do not provide SLT for communication difficulties associated with dementia – check with your local department.