Speech and Language Therapy in Primary Progressive Aphasia
Dementia Researcher Vodcast
03/19/26
•52m
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Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is a group of language led dementias where communication difficulties appear before memory loss. Despite this, diagnosis can often take years and access to specialist support remains inconsistent.
In this episode of the Dementia Researcher Podcast, Dr Annalise Rahman Filipiak speaks with Professor Jason Warren, Dr Anna Volkmer and Dr Jacqueline Kindell about the role of speech and language therapy in diagnosing and supporting people living with PPA. The discussion explores why diagnosis is often delayed, how speech and language therapists contribute to multidisciplinary assessment and care pathways, and why early referral can make a meaningful difference for patients and families.
The conversation also looks at international differences in access to services, the importance of communication support across the course of the condition, and the growing global movement to improve awareness through Primary Progressive Aphasia Awareness Day.
PPA Awareness Day 2026 - speechtherapyppa.com/ppa-awareness-day
About the guests
Jason Warren - Professor of Neurology at University College London and the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery. His research focuses on dementia, language disorders and diagnostic markers for primary progressive aphasia.
Anna Volkmer - Associate Professor and Consultant Speech and Language Therapist at University College London. Her work focuses on communication interventions and support for people living with primary progressive aphasia and their families.
Jacqueline Kindell - Speech and Language Therapist and Lecturer at The University of Manchester with extensive clinical and research experience in dementia and communication disorders.
Key Takeaways
- Primary progressive aphasia is a group of dementias where language difficulties appear before memory problems, which often makes diagnosis harder.
- Diagnosis can take several years because many dementia assessment tools focus on memory rather than communication and language.
- Speech and language therapists play an important role in diagnosing PPA by assessing language, communication and motor speech changes.
- Speech and language therapy is currently the main treatment available to help people with PPA manage communication difficulties.
- Early referral to speech and language therapy helps people and families adapt communication strategies and plan for future changes.
- Access to specialist speech and language therapy services varies widely depending on where people live.
- Communication support can improve quality of life and reduce wider pressures on health services by improving understanding between patients, families and clinicians.
- Primary Progressive Aphasia Awareness Day aims to improve recognition of the condition and promote early referral to speech and language therapy.
A transcript of this show, links and show notes and profile on all our guests are available on our website at www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk
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Previous Episode
In this episode, Professor Louise Serpell is joined by 2026 Rainwater Prize winners Professor Dennis Dickson, Professor Melissa Murray and Dr Marc Busche.
They talk about their work and the science that led to them earning this much deserved award, reflecting on decades of research into tau and its role in neurodegenerative disease. The conversation explores how tau functions in the healthy brain, how it becomes harmful in conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and progressive supranuclear palsy, and why certain brain regions are especially vulnerable.
The discussion covers different forms of tau, including soluble species that may disrupt how neurons fire before visible tangles appear. Brain banking, imaging and fluid biomarkers are highlighted as key tools for understanding disease differences and improving diagnosis. The importance of rare MAPT mutations and what they can teach us about future treatments is also explored.
Alongside the science, there are thoughtful reflections on mentorship, risk taking and the value of asking ambitious questions in dementia research.
Key Takeaways
- Tau is essential but context dependent. It is vital for normal brain function, yet changes in its chemistry, structure or location can drive neurodegeneration.
- Tangles are not the whole story. Soluble tau species can disrupt neuronal firing, even in single cells, before visible aggregates appear.
- Selective vulnerability defines tauopathies. Disorders such as PSP consistently affect specific brain regions & cell types, including glia, & we do not fully understand why.
- One biomarker does not fit all. Tau PET and fluid markers behave differently across Alzheimer’s disease and primary tauopathies, reflecting structural differences in tau.
- Progress depends on bold science. High risk experiments, strong mentorship and access to the right tools are essential for moving the field forward.
Find out more about the Rainwater Foundation:
https://rainwatercharitablefoundation.org/
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We gratefully acknowledge the support of our funders: Alzheimer’s Association, Race Against Dementia, Alzheimer’s Research UK, Alzheimer’s Society, and the National Institute for Health and Care Research.
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Next Episode
ADPD 2026 Conference Highlights - Part One
March 28
•42m
This episode of the Dementia Researcher Podcast comes from the AD PD Conference 2026 in Copenhagen, bringing together global researchers to share the latest in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease research.
Hosted by Professor David Cash, the episode features Grace Thompson, Dr Marieta Vassileva, and Dr Alice Carstairs, each offering their own highlights from across the conference.
Rather than trying to cover everything, the conversation focuses on standout talks and emerging themes. These include advances in biomarkers, growing interest in co pathology, the role of neuroinflammation, and how new tools like AI and multiomics are changing how we understand disease.
Across the discussion, the group reflects on what new findings might mean for diagnosis, treatment, and the future direction of dementia research. There is also a strong sense of optimism, with the field moving towards combination therapies and earlier intervention.
This is Part One of a two part series capturing reflections from the conference.
ADPD Conference Website - adpd.kenes.com/
Top Takeaways:
- Biomarkers are now central across diagnosis, prediction, and trials
- Co pathology is a major theme, with diseases rarely existing in isolation
- Tau is emerging as a key driver of cognitive decline
- Microglia and neuroinflammation offer new therapeutic targets
- Multiomics is helping uncover detailed disease mechanisms
- AI is becoming essential for handling complex datasets
- Early career researchers are playing a visible role at major conferences
- Synaptic loss is strongly linked to cognitive decline
- Combination therapies are increasingly seen as the future
- The field feels more optimistic than in previous years
A transcript of this show, links and show notes and profile on all our guests are available on our website at www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk
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