2. Semantic Variant Primary Progressive Aphasia (svPPA)
Semantic variant primary progressive aphasia (svPPA), also known as semantic dementia, is a subtype of FTD that significantly affects language comprehension. Unlike bvFTD, which mainly impacts behavior, svPPA primarily interferes with an individual’s language skills, making communication increasingly challenging.
In svPPA, individuals gradually lose the ability to understand or use words effectively. This loss extends to both spoken and written language. It’s important to note that this isn’t a simple forgetfulness of words. Instead, it’s a deterioration of semantic memory – the aspect of memory that governs facts and knowledge about the world, including word meanings.
A person with svPPA may repeatedly ask the meanings of words, even common ones. As the disease progresses, this could extend to the names of people, places, and items. Paradoxically, the ability to speak fluently, spell, and write typically remains preserved, at least in the initial stages.
Over time, the difficulty in understanding words extends to recognizing familiar faces and objects. A person with svPPA might fail to recognize everyday items or mix up objects that look similar. This increasing loss of semantic memory can result in an individual’s world gradually losing its meaning.
The symptoms of svPPA are a result of the progressive degeneration of neurons in the temporal lobes, particularly in the left hemisphere, which is typically dominant in language processing. This neuron loss leads to a shrinking of the affected brain regions, a process known as atrophy.
Despite the challenges it presents, it’s essential to remember that people with svPPA can continue to live meaningful lives. Strategies for communication and maintaining quality of life can be beneficial and will differ based on the individual’s unique experiences and symptom progression. (2)
