PRIMARY PROGRESSIVE APHASIA - SERIAL LINGUISTIC, NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL AND RADIOLOGICAL FINDINGS WITH NEUROPATHOLOGICAL RESULTS

Since Mesulam and Weintraub's (1992) original description of six patie nts with primary progressive aphasia (PPA), there has been considerabl e debate concerning the quality of the speech and language impairment, the long-term course of the disorder, the existence of syndrome subty pes, and the nature of the underlying pathological process. Me report the case of a 60-year-old woman who presented with a 4-year history of word-finding difficulty, and received a diagnosis of PPA. In contrast to a relentless deterioration of word-finding, comprehension and audi tory-verbal memory, all other intellectual skills remained well preser ved for a considerable period before the onset of dementia, and death. Regular detailed assessments of language, mnestic, intellectual and p sychological functioning were performed over a 6-year period, as well as serial radiology and post-mortem neuropathology. We report the find ings and discuss them in the context of the theoretical issues.