Clinical Trial: Rehabilitation and Prophylaxis of Anomia in Primary Progressive Aphasia

Study Status: Active, not recruiting
Recruit Status: Active, not recruiting
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title:

Brief Summary: The goal of this study is to remediate word-finding problems in patients with Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) and to delay the further progression of word-finding impairment. The current approach is novel in that it contains a prophylaxis component in which the investigators attempt to strengthen neural connections that remain functional, making them more resistant to degradation as the disease progresses. While the study is specific in its targeting of word-finding problems, a successful outcome would bode well for other studies aimed at prevention or reversal of declining cognitive functions in dementia. Patients with PPA whose naming of pictures has just begun to show signs of decline will receive practice with picture naming in two conditions: viewing the picture and repeating the name; and viewing the picture with its written name, plus reading and writing the name. Naming of pictures trained in each of these conditions will be compared, at three time intervals post-training, with naming of pictures tested before the study but never trained. A scene-description task containing trained items will be used to assess generalization. It is predicted that the pairing of the picture with its written name, combined with the motor task of writing the name, will result in a greater ability to name the picture at a later date than simple practice viewing the picture and repeating the name. Generalization to other exemplars and to other task situations is also predicted.

Detailed Summary:
Sponsor: Georgetown University

Current Primary Outcome: Change in picture naming accuracy for words within each treatment condition (Phonological, Orthographic, and Untrained) during treatment [ Time Frame: baseline, 7 months ]

The change in picture naming accuracy for words trained in the phonological or orthographic condition will be compared with the change in picture naming accuracy for words that were tested at baseline but never trained during the treatment phase.


Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome:

  • Change in picture naming accuracy for words within each treatment condition (Phonological, Orthographic, and Untrained) between baseline and first follow-up assessment [ Time Frame: baseline, 14 months ]
    The change in picture naming accuracy for words trained in the phonological or orthographic condition will be compared with the change in picture naming accuracy for words that were tested at baseline but never trained during the treatment phase.
  • Change in picture naming accuracy for words within each treatment condition (Phonological, Orthographic, and Untrained) between baseline and second follow-up assessment [ Time Frame: baseline, 21 months ]
    The change in picture naming accuracy for words trained in the phonological or orthographic condition will be compared with the change in picture naming accuracy for words that were tested at baseline but never trained during the treatment phase.


Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current

Information By: Georgetown University

Dates:
Date Received: January 28, 2016
Date Started: August 2011
Date Completion:
Last Updated: August 8, 2016
Last Verified: August 2016