What Is Primary Progressive Aphasia?

Though there’s no way to completely cure Primary Progressive Aphasia, certain treatments can greatly improve the quality of life for those living with PPA.

By Matt Benoit
Jun 5, 2023 6:00 PMJun 5, 2023 1:55 PM
Dementia
(Credit: Sidenko Tatiana/Shutterstock)

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When actor Bruce Willis was diagnosed with aphasia in the spring of 2022, it ignited interest in what exactly the condition is and how it affects those who have it.

While Willis later received a more specific diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia in February of this year, the two conditions are closely linked.

Primary Progressive Aphasia

In general, aphasia is classified as a neurogenic language disorder that causes a loss of language — both the ability to produce language and the ability to understand it. The condition can be caused by a stroke, head injury, brain tumor, or other brain-based infection or disease.

Primary progressive aphasia (PPA), which Willis was diagnosed with, is a progressively worsening form of aphasia that is also recognized as a sub-type of frontotemporal dementia. Unlike some other forms of aphasia, there is no way to slow this condition down and there is no way to cure it. 

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