RecruitingNot ApplicableNCT05741853

Cognitive Reserve and Response to Speech-Language Intervention in Bilingual Speakers With Primary Progressive Aphasia

Cognitive Reserve and Linguistic Resilience in Bilingual Hispanics With Primary Progressive Aphasia

Sponsor

University of Texas at Austin

Enrollment

60 participants

Start Date

May 1, 2023

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Dementia Alzheimer Disease Communication Disorders Aphasia Dysarthria Neurocognitive Disorders Primary Progressive Aphasia Neurodegenerative Diseases Dementia, Frontotemporal Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration Apraxia, Motor Language Disorders Speech Disorders Bilingual Aphasia

Summary

Difficulties with speech and language are the first and most notable symptoms of primary progressive aphasia (PPA). While there is evidence that demonstrates positive effects of speech-language treatment for individuals with PPA who only speak one language (monolinguals), there is a significant need for investigating the effects of treatment that is optimized for bilingual speakers with PPA. This stage 2 efficacy clinical trial seeks to establish the effects of culturally and linguistically tailored speech-language interventions administered to bilingual individuals with PPA. The overall aim of the intervention component of this study is to establish the relationships between the bilingual experience (e.g., how often each language is used, how "strong" each language is) and treatment response of bilinguals with PPA. Specifically, the investigators will evaluate the benefits of tailored speech-language intervention administered in both languages to bilingual individuals with PPA (60 individuals will be recruited). The investigators will conduct an assessment before treatment, after treatment and at two follow-ups (6 and 12-months post-treatment) in both languages. When possible, a structural scan of the brain (magnetic resonance image) will be collected before treatment in order to identify if brain regions implicated in bilingualism are associated with response to treatment. In addition to the intervention described herein, 30 bilingual individuals with PPA will be recruited to complete behavioral cognitive-linguistic testing and will not receive intervention. Results will provide important knowledge about the neural mechanisms of language re-learning and will address how specific characteristics of bilingualism influence cognitive reserve and linguistic resilience in PPA.

Eligibility

Min Age: 40 Years

Plain Language Summary

Simplified for easier understanding

This study is investigating how a person's cognitive reserve (the brain's ability to cope with damage, often built through education and life experiences) affects how well they respond to speech and language therapy. It focuses specifically on people with primary progressive aphasia (PPA) — a neurological condition that causes gradual loss of language ability — who speak both Spanish and either Catalan or English. **You may be eligible if...** - You have been diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia (PPA) - You are bilingual in Spanish and Catalan, OR Spanish and English - For the treatment study: you score 15 or higher on the Mini-Mental State Examination (a cognitive test) - For assessment only: you score 10 or higher on the same test **You may NOT be eligible if...** - You have another brain or medical condition that could explain your symptoms - You have a psychiatric diagnosis that could cause similar symptoms - You have significant uncorrected vision or hearing problems - Your main problems are not related to speech or language (e.g., movement or behavior problems dominate) Talk to your doctor to see if this trial is right for you.

This summary was AI-generated to explain the trial in plain language. It is not medical advice. Always discuss eligibility with your doctor before enrolling in a clinical trial.

Interested in this trial?

Get notified about updates and connect with the research team.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALVideo-Implemented Script Training for Aphasia (VISTA)

Participants with nonfluent/agrammatic variant primary progressive aphasia (PPA) or a predominantly nonfluent profile work on producing personally relevant scripts of 4-6 sentences in length. Length and complexity of scripts are individually tailored. The participant completes two (one hour each) teletherapy sessions per week with a clinician targeting clear and accurate script production, script memorization, and conversational usage of scripts. The participant completes 30 minutes of independent, computer-based practice 5-7 times per week, during which they speak in unison with a video/audio model of a healthy speaker clearly articulating the scripts.

BEHAVIORALLexical Retrieval Training (LRT)

Participants with logopenic variant PPA, participants with semantic variant PPA, and participants with a predominantly anomic profile will work on producing spoken and written names of personally relevant target items using a self-cueing hierarchy. Treatment focuses on the use of strategies that capitalize on spared cognitive-linguistic abilities to support word retrieval. The participant completes two (one hour each) teletherapy sessions per week with a clinician plus 30 minutes of additional independent, computer-based practice exercises 5-7 times per week.