Understanding two types of progressive apraxia of speech linked to Alzheimer‑related 4‑repeat tau disease
The neurobiology of two distinct subtypes of neurodegenerative apraxia of speech: phenotypes of Alzheimer disease related 4-repeat tauopathies
This project will learn how two types of progressive apraxia of speech (phonetic and prosodic) change over time in people with Alzheimer‑related 4‑repeat tau disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11305994 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have progressive apraxia of speech (PAOS), the team will follow you over time with regular speech and language tests to track how your symptoms change. You may be asked to have brain imaging such as structural MRI, diffusion imaging, and FDG‑PET to see how brain structure and metabolism change. The study will also use genetic testing and, when possible, link findings to brain tissue after death to understand the underlying tau pathology. The goal is to match clinical speech patterns to imaging and pathology to give clearer prognoses and targets for future treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults diagnosed with progressive apraxia of speech (phonetic or prosodic subtypes), often suspected to have Alzheimer‑related 4‑repeat tau pathology, are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People whose speech problems are due to stroke, acute injury, non‑neurodegenerative causes, or unrelated conditions are unlikely to benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help doctors diagnose PAOS subtypes earlier, predict how symptoms will progress, and guide development of targeted treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier work from this team confirmed the two PAOS subtypes and linked them to specific 4‑repeat tau diseases, but longitudinal progression and imaging biomarkers remain largely untested.
Where this research is happening
Rochester, United States
- Mayo Clinic Rochester — Rochester, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Josephs, Keith a — Mayo Clinic Rochester
- Study coordinator: Josephs, Keith a
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 below.