What should be done when a relative shows PPA symptoms?
- Meet with your family doctor (or primary care physician) and inform them about the Research Chair on PPA – Fondation de la famille Lemaire.
- Clearly document the onset and progression of the language difficulties (When did they begin? How did they evolve) and examples of everyday errors (What are the consequences of the difficulties?).
- The family doctor will perform/order cognitive testing, brain imaging (MRI or CT scan) and blood tests to eliminate other possible causes.
- The family doctor will also be able to refer the patient to a neurologist with a specialty in neurobehavioral disorders to determine the specific variant of PPA.
- To precisely identify the language difficulties and specify the diagnosis, a complementary assessment in speech-language pathology may be recommended. Depending on the patient’s and the relatives’ needs, a follow-up in speech-language pathology can be offered.
- Currently, there are no pharmalogical treatments that can cure PPA. For the cases with underlying Alzheimer’s pathology (for example, the logopenic variant of PPA), an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (Aricept [Donepezil] or Exelon [Rivastigmine]) can be tried.
- If any behavioural changes are noticed, they should be mentionned to the family doctor who can help treating them.
- In any case, it is recommended that the patients follow the recommendations for cognitive health such as a balanced diet, regular exercise, and stimulating social activities, while adapting it to their condition.
- Publications on cognitive health :