Improving diagnosis and outcomes for primary progressive aphasia
Official title: Toward Personalized Prognosis and Outcomes in Primary Progressive Aphasia
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-10634041 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at ways to better understand and diagnose primary progressive aphasia (PPA), a condition that affects how people communicate, by using advanced brain imaging techniques, so that doctors can provide better care and support for those living with PPA.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | April 17, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $2,515,977 |
| NIH project number | 1RF1NS131395-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10634041 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with primary progressive aphasia or those exhibiting early symptoms of this condition.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other forms of dementia or cognitive disorders unrelated to primary progressive aphasia may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on primary progressive aphasia (PPA), a neurodegenerative condition that primarily affects language abilities while sparing other cognitive functions in its early stages. The team aims to develop advanced imaging techniques, including tau and amyloid imaging, to differentiate between the various subtypes of PPA and their underlying causes. By utilizing functional connectivity MRI and other imaging methods, the research seeks to provide more accurate diagnoses and better prognostic tools for monitoring disease progression and treatment effects. This could lead to improved clinical practices for healthcare providers treating patients with PPA.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to earlier and more accurate diagnoses of primary progressive aphasia, ultimately improving patient management and treatment outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using advanced imaging techniques for diagnosing neurodegenerative diseases, suggesting that this approach could be effective for PPA as well.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dickerson, Bradford C — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Dickerson, Bradford C
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Personalized prognosis and care for primary progressive aphasia
This project will use brain scans and molecular imaging to help predict how language skills will change over time for people with primary progressive aphasia.
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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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Improving communication support for people with primary progressive aphasia
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.
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.