Treating lexical retrieval using letter fluency and tDCS in primary progressive aphasia: a single-case study

Background In early stages, individuals with primary progressive aphasia (PPA) report language symptoms while scoring within norm in formal tests. Early intervention is important due to the nature of disease.Method We a single-case study an individual logopenic variant PPA (lvPPA). tested whether letter fluency, used as therapy task, can improve lexical retrieval when combined tDCS either left inferior-frontal gyrus (IFG) or inferior parietal lobe (IPL), administered two separate phases separated by wash-out period 3 months.Outcomes and results observed increases number words retrieved during fluency task trained untrained letters, (LeFT) was anodal tDCS. When LeFT IFG stimulation, produced were lower frequency higher age acquisition after treatment, compared before treatment there also increase accuracy response times picture-naming task.Conclusions The indicate that effective improving retrieval, particularly stimulation used. Effects generalize beyond albeit slowing down responses picture naming. This may provide useful clinical strategy for patients mild anomia, who are not challenged enough traditional naming therapies.