Language Treatment for Progressive Aphasia

Slowing Language Decline in Progressive Aphasia Through Language Rehabilitation: Treatment and Neuroimaging Study

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT00957710

Enrollment

Registered

2009-08-12

Start date

2009-08-31

Completion date

2010-12-31

Last updated

2015-01-27

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Primary Progressive Aphasia, Nonfluent Progressive Aphasia, Semantic Dementia

Keywords

progressive aphasia, semantic dementia, neuroimaging, treatment, errorless learning

Brief summary

Progressive aphasia is characterized by a steady and progressive loss of language skills in the presence of relatively preserved memory, attention, and thinking. The aim of this study is to slow the progression of language decline in progressive aphasia via language therapy. The first goal of this study is to improve naming abilities of individuals with progressive aphasia. This will be accomplished by carrying out an intensive treatment program for anomia. The second goal is to evaluate whether this intense language treatment re-activates affected areas and/or connections within the language network, using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (to measure neural activity in specific brain regions) and Diffusion Tensor Imaging tractography (to measure the connectivity between specific brain regions). This is the first study on progressive aphasia addressing both treatment and imaging in the same patients.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALErrorless learning

Language testing,20 sessions of language therapy, and 2 neuroimaging sessions for participants with progressive aphasia Language testing and 1 imaging session for healthy controls

Study design

Allocation

Intervention model

SINGLE_GROUP

Masking

NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

40 Years to 80 Years

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Diagnosis of progressive aphasia * Native English speaker or fluent in English * Adequate hearing and vision (not requiring more than +6 diopter correction) * Willing and able to participate in each phase of the study (including two fMRI sessions)

Exclusion criteria

* Contraindications to fMRI (e.g., claustrophobia, pacemaker, ferromagnetic implant) * Current medical or psychiatric condition affecting cognition (other than progressive aphasia)

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Accuracy of picture naming	3 months

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Changes on neuroimaging	3 months

Countries

Canada

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026