National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Logopenic progressive aphasia


Other Names:
LPA; Logopenic primary progressive aphasia; Logopenic variant PPA
Categories:
This disease is grouped under:
Logopenic progressive aphasia (LPA) is a type of dementia characterized by language disturbance, including difficulty making or understanding speech (aphasia). It is a type of primary progressive aphasia (PPA). Affected individuals have slow, hesitant speech due to difficulty retrieving the correct words, names, or numbers. Difficulty with phase and sentence repetition are additionally present. Speech is typically well articulated and grammatically correct with good single-word comprehension. But over time, affected individuals may have trouble understanding long or complex verbal information, due to problems holding onto lengthy information that they hear. Language difficulties associated with LPA are due to shrinking, or atrophy, in the left posterior temporal cortex and inferior parietal lobule. Click here to view an image of the lobes of the brain.[1][2][3]
Last updated: 1/18/2013
Although no medications or interventions have demonstrated long-term stabilization of logopenic progressive aphasia (LPA), different treatment methods have shown promising short-term benefits.[2][4] Studies utilizing language therapy and behavioral interventions have shown encouraging results. Neuromodulation through methodologies such as Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) have additionally been identified as a promising therapies to potentially use in combination with behavioral treatment and language therapy.[2]

As the most common underlying pathology of LPA is Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology, limited research has been completed on interventions shown to reduce the rate of decline in cognitive symptoms in AD. So far cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine, medications used in Alzheimer’s disease, have not been proven effective in treating logopenic progressive aphasia. Case studies involving steriod use and Omentum Transposition Therapy have reported improvement; however, the results have not been replicated in other cases and as with other treatment options, long-term studies are lacking.[2]

The National Aphasia Association provides further information on the medical management of primary progressive aphasias at the following link:

http://live-naa.pantheon.io/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Managing-PPA.pdf
Last updated: 4/4/2016
Typically during the first few years following disease onset, signs and symptoms primarily involve speech and language problems. Pronounced behavioral problems are not as common in logopenic progressive aphasia, as in other forms of primary progressive aphasia.[5] Caregiver experience of changes in behavioral symptoms and everyday skills has been demonstrated to be similar to that of Alzheimer’s disease.[6]
Last updated: 1/18/2013

Little is known regarding the overall life expectancy of individuals with logopenic progressive aphasia. This dementia is associated with Alzheimer’s disease in the majority of cases.[6] Life expectancy for people with Alzheimer’s disease has been estimated to be between 3 to 10 years.[7] However, due to the many variables that influence life expectancy, making individualized life-expectancy predictions can be very difficult.
Last updated: 1/18/2013

Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

  • ClinicalTrials.gov lists trials that are related to Logopenic progressive aphasia. Click on the link to go to ClinicalTrials.gov to read descriptions of these studies.

    Please note: Studies listed on the ClinicalTrials.gov website are listed for informational purposes only; being listed does not reflect an endorsement by GARD or the NIH. We strongly recommend that you talk with a trusted healthcare provider before choosing to participate in any clinical study.

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease

Living with a genetic or rare disease can impact the daily lives of patients and families. These resources can help families navigate various aspects of living with a rare disease.

Financial Resources

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

In-Depth Information

  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Logopenic progressive aphasia. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

Questions sent to GARD may be posted here if the information could be helpful to others. We remove all identifying information when posting a question to protect your privacy. If you do not want your question posted, please let us know. Submit a new question

  • Two questions if I may: Is there any know medications or treatment that can be used for this condition? What can the life expectancy be?  See answer


  1. Primary Progressive Aphasia. UCSF Memory and Aging Center. February 2011; http://memory.ucsf.edu/education/diseases/ppa. Accessed 9/14/2011.
  2. Donna C. Tippett, Argye E. Hillis,Kyrana Tsapkini. Treatment of Primary Progressive Aphasia. Curr Treat Options Neurol.. August 2015; 17(8):362. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4600091/.
  3. M.L. Gorno-Tempini,A.E. Hillis, S. Weintraub, A. Kertesz, M. Mendez, S.F. Cappa, J.M. Ogar, J.D. Rohrer, S. Black, B.F. Boeve, F. Manes, N.F. Dronkers, R. Vandenberghe, K. Rascovsky, K. Patterson, B.L. Miller, D.S. Knopman, J.R. Hodges, M.M. Mesulam, M. Grossman. Classification of primary progressive aphasia and its variants. Neurology. March 2011; 76(11):1006-1014. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3059138/.
  4. Beeson PM, King RM, Bonakdarpour B, Henry ML, Cho H, Rapcsak SZ. Positive effects of language treatment for the logopenic variant of primary progressive aphasia. J Mol Neurosci. 2011 Nov;45(3):724-36; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21710364.
  5. Le Rhun E, Richard F, Pasquier F. Natural history of primary progressive aphasia. Neurology. 2005 Sep 27;65(6):887-91; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16186529. Accessed 1/18/2013.
  6. Hsieh S, Hodges JR, Leyton CE, Mioshi E. Longitudinal changes in primary progressive aphasias: differences in cognitive and dementia staging measures. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord. 2012;34(2):135-41; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23006977. Accessed 1/18/2013.
  7. Zanetti O, Solerte SB, Cantoni F. Life expectancy in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Arch Gerontol Geriatr. 2009;49 Suppl 1:237-43; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19836639. Accessed 1/18/2013.
  8. Miller BL Lee SE,. Frontotemporal dementia: Treatment. In: DeKosky ST, Eichler AF. UpToDate. Waltham, MA: UpToDate; 2013;
  9. Amici S, Gorno-Tempini ML, Ogar JM, Dronkers NF, Miller BL. An overview on Primary Progressive Aphasia and its variants. Behav Neurol. 2006;17(2):77-87; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16873918. Accessed 1/18/2013.
  10. Randolph C . Frontotermporal dementia: Clinical features and diganosis. In: DeKasky ST, Eichler AF. UpToDate. Waltham, MA: UpToDate; 2012;