The Course of Primary Progressive Aphasia Diagnosis : A Cross-Sectional Study.

Abstract

BackgroundThe Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) diagnosis trajectory is debated, as several changes in diagnosis occur during PPA course, due to phenotype evolution from isolated language alterations to global cognitive impairment.The goal of the present study, based on a French cohort was to describe the demographics and the evolution of subjects with (PPA) in comparison with Alzheimer Disease (AD) on a period of seven years. MethodsWe conducted a repeated cross-sectional study. The study population comprised individuals with PPA and AD diagnosis (N=167191) from 2010 to 2016 in the French National data Bank (BNA). Demographic variables, MMSE scores, diagnosis status at each visit and prescribed treatments were considered.ResultsFrom 2010 to 2016, 5186 patients were initially diagnosed with PPA, 162005 with AD. Compared to AD subjects, significant differences were found concerning: age (younger at first diagnosis for PPA), gender (more balanced in PPA), education level (higher in PPA) and MMSE score (higher in PPA). Percentage of pending diagnosis, delay between first consultation and first diagnosis and the number of different diagnoses before the diagnosis of interest were significantly higher in PPA group compared to AD group. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments were significatively more recommended following PPA than AD diagnosis.ConclusionThis study improves the knowledge of PPA epidemiology and has the potential to help adopting appropriate public health service policies. It supports the hypothesis that PPA is diagnosed later than AD. The PPA diagnosis increases the prescription of non-pharmacological treatments, especially speech and language therapy (SLT) that is the main treatment available and most effective when at the initial stage.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT03687112

Adaptation and Reliability of the Cinderella Story Retell Task in Canadian French Persons Without Brain Injury

“…Fourth, in contrast to previous studies (e.g., Stark, Alexander, et al, 2022), we chose a longer period between testing sessions ranging from 162 to 373 days that may better reflect changes associated with typical aging (Mueller et al, 2018). Our sample's age range does fall well within the age range whereby the first signs of some degenerative disorders appear, such as primary progressive aphasia (Mouton et al, 2022) and subjective cognitive impairment (Jessen et al, 2014). We did not administer a second cognitive screening because the MoCA was conducted at the follow-up session.…”

Adaptation and Reliability of the Cinderella Story Retell Task in Canadian French Persons Without Brain Injury

“…Fourth, in contrast to previous studies (e.g., Stark, Alexander, et al, 2022), we chose a longer period between testing sessions ranging from 162 to 373 days that may better reflect changes associated with typical aging (Mueller et al, 2018). Our sample's age range does fall well within the age range whereby the first signs of some degenerative disorders appear, such as primary progressive aphasia (Mouton et al, 2022) and subjective cognitive impairment (Jessen et al, 2014). We did not administer a second cognitive screening because the MoCA was conducted at the follow-up session.…”

Adaptation and Reliability of the Cinderella Story Retell Task in Canadian French Persons Without Brain Injury

“…Fourth, in contrast to previous studies (e.g., Stark, Alexander, et al, 2022), we chose a longer period between testing sessions ranging from 162 to 373 days that may better reflect changes associated with typical aging (Mueller et al, 2018). Our sample's age range does fall well within the age range whereby the first signs of some degenerative disorders appear, such as primary progressive aphasia (Mouton et al, 2022) and subjective cognitive impairment (Jessen et al, 2014). We did not administer a second cognitive screening because the MoCA was conducted at the follow-up session.…”

Adaptation and Reliability of the Cinderella Story Retell Task in Canadian French Persons Without Brain Injury

“…Fourth, in contrast to previous studies (e.g., Stark, Alexander, et al, 2022), we chose a longer period between testing sessions ranging from 162 to 373 days that may better reflect changes associated with typical aging (Mueller et al, 2018). Our sample's age range does fall well within the age range whereby the first signs of some degenerative disorders appear, such as primary progressive aphasia (Mouton et al, 2022) and subjective cognitive impairment (Jessen et al, 2014). We did not administer a second cognitive screening because the MoCA was conducted at the follow-up session.…”