CASE REPORT
Logopenic variant of primary progressive aphasia – Case report
 
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Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Warmia and Mazury, Poland
 
 
Submission date: 2014-11-28
 
 
Acceptance date: 2015-10-28
 
 
Online publication date: 2015-12-19
 
 
Publication date: 2020-03-23
 
 
Corresponding author
Agnieszka Rakowska   

Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Warmia and Mazury, Warszawska 30, Olsztyn 10-082, Poland. Tel.: +48 661950089.
 
 
Pol. Ann. Med. 2016;23(1):39-42
 
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Speech disorders are often first symptoms of dementias with neurodegenerative basis. Differences in the clinical picture and different types of the speech difficulties may make diagnosis of this degenerative process easier.

Aim:
To present an example of clinical evaluation of the patient with primary progressive aphasia (PPA) according to the newest diagnostic criteria. To shortly revise current knowledge about logopenic variant and its association with Alzheimer disease.

Case study:
We present a case of a 75-year-old man suffering from progressive language difficulties, who was finally diagnosed as having primary progressive aphasia – logopenic variant. Clinical data, neuroimaging, psychological test batteries and speech therapist's examination based on the Boston Aphasia Test were used.

Results and discussion:
In the first part we revise evolution of primary progressive aphasia diagnostic criteria and nomenclature, and focus on current approach to the patient with isolated, progressive speech difficulties. In the second part we attempt to summarize linguistic, neuropsychological and pathological findings that one may encounter in the case of logopenic variant of PPA.

Conclusions:
Diagnosis of primary progressive aphasia requires a close cooperation between neurologist, speech therapists and psychologists. Clinical presentation, due to various level of cognitive decline at first stages of the disease and individualization of the clinical picture, is nonuniform. Recently created diagnostic criteria make both basic diagnosis and diagnosis of the primary progressive aphasia variants easier. This may lead choosing the rehabilitation methods easier in case of disordered language functions and other cognitive domains.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST
None declared.
 
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