Language Treatment for Progressive Aphasia

NCT ID: NCT00957710

Last Updated: 2015-01-27

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 7 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2009-08-31
• Study Completion Date: 2010-12-31

Brief Summary

Progressive aphasia is characterized by a steady and progressive loss of language skills in the presence of relatively preserved memory, attention, and thinking. The aim of this study is to slow the progression of language decline in progressive aphasia via language therapy. The first goal of this study is to improve naming abilities of individuals with progressive aphasia. This will be accomplished by carrying out an intensive treatment program for anomia. The second goal is to evaluate whether this intense language treatment re-activates affected areas and/or connections within the language network, using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (to measure neural activity in specific brain regions) and Diffusion Tensor Imaging tractography (to measure the connectivity between specific brain regions). This is the first study on progressive aphasia addressing both treatment and imaging in the same patients.

Conditions

Primary Progressive Aphasia; Nonfluent Progressive Aphasia; Semantic Dementia

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

langauge therapy

Naming therapy

Group Type: OTHER

Errorless learning

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Language testing,20 sessions of language therapy, and 2 neuroimaging sessions for participants with progressive aphasia Language testing and 1 imaging session for healthy controls

Interventions

Errorless learning

Language testing,20 sessions of language therapy, and 2 neuroimaging sessions for participants with progressive aphasia Language testing and 1 imaging session for healthy controls

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Other Intervention Names

treatment for anomia

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Diagnosis of progressive aphasia
• Native English speaker or fluent in English
• Adequate hearing and vision (not requiring more than +6 diopter correction)
• Willing and able to participate in each phase of the study (including two fMRI sessions)

Exclusion Criteria

• Contraindications to fMRI (e.g., claustrophobia, pacemaker, ferromagnetic implant)
• Current medical or psychiatric condition affecting cognition (other than progressive aphasia)

• Minimum Eligible Age: 40 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 80 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Baycrest

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Regina Jokel

clinician scientist

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Regina Jokel, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Baycrest

Locations

Baycrest

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Countries

Canada

References

Jokel R, Rochon E, Anderson ND. Errorless learning of computer-generated words in a patient with semantic dementia. Neuropsychol Rehabil. 2010 Jan;20(1):16-41. doi: 10.1080/09602010902879859.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 19504403 (View on PubMed)

Jokel R, Rochon E, Leonard C. Treating anomia in semantic dementia: improvement, maintenance, or both? Neuropsychol Rehabil. 2006 Jun;16(3):241-56. doi: 10.1080/09602010500176757.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 16835150 (View on PubMed)

Jokel R, Rochon E, Leonard C. Therapy for anomia in semantic dementia. Brain Cogn. 2002 Jul;49(2):241-4.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 15259401 (View on PubMed)

Jokel R, Cupit J, Rochon E, Leonard C. Relearning lost vocabulary in nonfluent progressive aphasia with Mosstalk Words. Aphasiology 23(2): 175-191, 2009

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

Other Identifiers

REB 09-24

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id