Language in Primary Progressive Aphasia

February 24, 2026 updated by: Marsel Mesulam, Northwestern University

Asymmetric Neurodegeneration and Language in Primary Progressive Aphasia

The purpose of this study is to further define the neurological and linguistic deterioration in primary progressive aphasia.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Detailed Description

The Language in Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) aims to understand the behavioral, anatomical and physiological changes in people with PPA throughout the course of the illness. The researchers in this study want to increase awareness of PPA, educate others about this unique disorder, and to encourage more research to eventually develop therapies.

During the three-day research program, participants will be asked to undergo neuropsychological testing (paper and pencil tests that evaluate cognition), advanced imaging (MRI and PET), cognitive experiments, and other computer and language testing batteries. Participants may be asked to return every two years to complete the same measures.

For participants not living near Chicago, IL, flights and accommodations (for both the person with PPA and their companion) will be covered by the study.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

500

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Illinois
      • Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60611
        • Recruiting
        • Northwestern University
        • Principal Investigator:
          • M.-Marsel Mesulam, MD
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Participants with PPA will be recruited from the Northwestern University Alzheimer's Disease Center Core registry, the Northwestern University Neurobehavior and Memory Clinic, and from those who contact the center that are interested in PPA research.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosis of primary progressive aphasia
  • Right-handed
  • Native English speaker
  • Visual acuity of 20/30 corrected
  • Adequate hearing to follow conversation
  • Safe for an MRI scan

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Left-handedness
  • Claustrophobia
  • Presence of significant medical illness that initially or in the future could interfere with continued participation in the study

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: Cohort
  • Time Perspectives: Prospective

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
PPA (Primary Progressive Aphasia)
Individuals with primary progressive aphasia
Control
Individuals with no diagnosis of any type of dementia

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Neuropsychological variables
Time Frame: Immediately after testing and at two years post-testing
Immediately after testing and at two years post-testing

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Northwestern University

Collaborators

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Marsel Mesulam, MD, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

May 1, 2007

Primary Completion (Estimated)

April 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

April 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 26, 2007

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 26, 2007

First Posted (Estimated)

September 28, 2007

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

February 27, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 24, 2026

Last Verified

February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • IA0125
  • R01AG077444 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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