Improving communication support for people with primary progressive aphasia
Official title: Communication Bridge: Optimizing an evidence-based intervention for individuals with primary progressive aphasia
Funded at University of Chicago · NIH-11398724 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project improves and delivers an evidence-based speech and communication program to help people with primary progressive aphasia and their care partners, including through telehealth.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2017 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $455,717 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AG055425-09S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11398724 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia (PPA) and their communication partners, typically in early to moderate stages and able to take part in speech-language sessions in person or via telehealth.
✕Less likely to help
People with very advanced, nonverbal PPA, severe medical or cognitive conditions that prevent participation, or without access to required telehealth technology may not receive benefit from this intervention.
What this research studies
You would receive a staged speech-language and psychosocial program called Communication Bridge, delivered in sessions that can be done in person or by telehealth. Some participants are randomly assigned to different versions so researchers can compare which approaches work best for everyday communication. The team measures functional communication, social participation, and quality of life, with follow-ups to see if gains last over time. Earlier phases showed telepractice is feasible and produced maintained improvements, and this work refines and prepares the program for wider use.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could improve everyday communication, social participation, and quality of life for people with PPA and provide practical strategies for their care partners.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier Communication Bridge trials (CB1 and CB2) demonstrated feasibility of telepractice delivery and showed maintained gains in functional communication at six months, so this work builds on promising results.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rogalski, Emily J — University of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Rogalski, Emily J
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Communication Bridge: Improving language therapy for people with primary progressive aphasia
A proven language-therapy program called Communication Bridge helps people with primary progressive aphasia improve and maintain how they communicate with others.
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Bilingualism and language resilience in Hispanic people with primary progressive aphasia
Researchers compare different bilingual experiences to see how they relate to language decline and thinking skills in Hispanic adults with primary progressive aphasia.
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Communication Bridge helps people with primary progressive aphasia talk more clearly
Aimed at people with primary progressive aphasia, this project tests a speech-language and psychosocial program delivered by telepractice to improve daily communication and quality of life.
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Transcranial current therapy for language in progressive aphasia
A world-class team is testing a painless brain-stimulation method to help people with primary progressive aphasia say more words and names.
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Primary Progressive Aphasia: How speech and language decline happens and progresses
This grant studies a brain disease called primary progressive aphasia to understand why speech and language slip up over time.
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Noninvasive brain stimulation to improve word‑finding in primary progressive aphasia
This project uses gentle, noninvasive brain stimulation (tDCS) to try to help people with primary progressive aphasia who have trouble finding words.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.