MedWorm: Aphasia

The Impact of Dementia Severity on Caregiver Burden in Frontotemporal Dementia and Alzheimer Disease

Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 06:00:00 +0100

This study is the first to show that caregivers of SemDem, PNFA, and AD patients show similar burden, while confirming that bvFTD caregivers show higher burden than AD caregivers. More importantly, this study demonstrates that burden worsens with disease progression in FTD. (C) 2012 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders)

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Research Finds Similar Gene Mutations in Early and Late Onset Alzheimer's

About Alzheimers Disease — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

When we consider early onset Alzheimer's disease (where symptoms appear before the age of 60) and late onset, there is a tendency to categorize early onset as familial, meaning that it has a strong hereditary component, and late onset as sporadic, meaning that it is much more random. However, based on what researchers are learning, we may need to rethink this. A recent study discovered similar gene mutations in cases of both early and late onset Alzheimer's disease. This indicates that there may be a higher amount of heredity in late onset Alzheimer's disease than we have traditionally thought. These researchers also point to evidence that people with Alzheimer's often have multiple relatives who have Alzheimer's, other kinds of dementia, or a neurological disorder such as Parkinson's. A...

Aphasia.

The American Journal of Nursing — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: McGowan JA PMID: 22277868 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: The American Journal of Nursing)

Effects of Word Frequency and Modality on Sentence Comprehension Impairments in People with Aphasia.

American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: The results show that sentence comprehension in people with aphasia is influenced by word frequency and presentation modality. PMID: 22294411 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology)

A comparison of intention and pantomime gesture treatment for noun retrieval in people with aphasia.

American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: IGT and PGT had positive treatment effects, but for contrasting communication modalities. Two individuals with mild-moderate aphasia improved verbal production for both IGT and PGT, while pantomime treatment led to improved gesture use in two individuals with severe aphasia. PMID: 22294410 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology)

Constrained vs. Unconstrained Intensive Language Therapy in Two Individuals with Chronic, Moderate-to-Severe Aphasia and Apraxia of Speech: Behavioral and fMRI Outcomes.

American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: Participants accurately produced more target words post-CIAT than post-PACE. Behavioral and fMRI results support the notion that the intense and repetitive nature of obligatory speech production in CIAT has a positive effect on word retrieval, even in chronic moderate-to-severe aphasia with co-morbid AOS. PMID: 22294409 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology)

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Local Doctor Talks About Treating Gabrielle Giffords

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:47:02 +0100

BOSTON (CBS) – As Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords hugged President Obama at the State of the Union address, a speech-language pathologist here in Boston was watching with tears in her eyes. Dr. Marjorie Nicholas, an Associate Professor at the MGH Institute of Health Professions, spent two weeks working with Giffords in October. Dr. Nicholas says it was an intense period of speech and language therapy. “It was extremely exciting,” she says. “As the rest of the world has seen with Gabby, she is a very inspiring person. It was a great honor for me to be able to work with her and be part of her rehabilitation.” Dr. Nicholas says Giffords has a condition called Aphasia, a language disorder caused by an injury to the brain. The left side of Giffords’ brain, which is associated w...

A case of giant esophageal leiomyoma

Comparative Clinical Pathology — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:25:49 +0100

We report a giant spiral leiomyoma that presented with dysphasia and weight loss and enucleated successfully. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original ArticlePages 1-3DOI 10.1007/s00580-012-1417-6Authors Rahim Mahmodlu, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, IranSona Noori-Vahed, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, IranPeyman Mikaili, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, IranRahim Mehdioghli, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran Journal Comparative Clinical PathologyOnline ISSN 1618-565XPrint ISSN 1618-5641 (Source: Comparative Clinical Pathology)

Cefepime: Aphasia, encephalopathy and status epilepticus: case report

Reactions — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:35:21 +0100

(Source: Reactions)

Prestroke/poststroke fMRI in aphasia: Perilesional hemodynamic activation and language recovery

Neurology — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(Source: Neurology)

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Young Man With Fever and Eye Pain

Annals of Emergency Medicine — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:16:32 +0100

A 21-year-old man presented with several days of fever, sinus pain, decreased vision, and pain with eye movement. Examination revealed proptosis and periorbital edema/erythema, with an afferent pupillary defect and a visual acuity of hand-motion in the right eye (). A computed tomography (CT) scan showed opacification of the frontal, ethmoid, and maxillary sinuses bilaterally, with right-sided orbital inflammatory changes and a subperiosteal abscess in the superomedial orbit (). The patient began receiving vancomycin, ceftazidime, and metronidazole. He underwent an orbitotomy with subperiosteal abscess drainage and right-sided ethmoidectomy that same day. Abscess cultures grew Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus sanguis. Although the external examination showed apparent improvement, th...

Verbal and nonverbal memory impairment in aphasia

Journal of Neurology — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 06:51:47 +0100

Abstract Repetition is frequently impaired in aphasia, most strikingly in conduction aphasia. The still not fully answered question is whether this relates to a linguistic deficit or to a general impairment of working memory extending to other modalities as well. To contribute to this problem, we assessed 49 aphasic and 50 non-aphasic stroke patients using an aphasia test plus three memory tests in forward and backward fashion, taxing verbal, numerical, spatial, and facial retention. The results show that in aphasics there is a memory gradient declining gradually from verbal to nonverbal content reflecting aphasia severity and that aphasics generally perform worse than non-aphasics, even if they present with similar cerebral lesions. Content Type Journal ArticleCategor...

Individual finger synchronized robot-assisted hand rehabilitation in subacute to chronic stroke: a prospective randomized clinical trial of efficacy.

Clinical Rehabilitation — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: A four-week rehabilitation using a novel robot that provides individual finger synchronization resulted in a dose-dependent improvement in hand function in subacute to chronic stroke patients. PMID: 22261813 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Clinical Rehabilitation)

Hemiparesis and aphasia in a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Sumeet G Dua, Seema Kembhavi, Brijesh AroraAnnals of Indian Academy of Neurology 2011 14(4):319-320 (Source: Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology)

Verbal fluency in Alzheimer's disease and Aphasia

Dementia — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

This study examined the impact of two neurological diseases on access to semantic knowledge and the status of semantic representations. Patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Aphasia (APH) were compared with control groups using the supermarket fluency task. We measured several aspects: number of category names produced, number of categories sampled to produce the words, the number of words per category sampled, number of exemplars and kinds of errors recorded. Both AD and APH groups produced significantly fewer words on the fluency task than control groups. As compared with the APH and control groups, in the AD group verbal fluency was characterized by a tendency to generate more category names with fewer exemplars within a category. The findings are consistent with the view that a bo...

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[Hemolytic uremic syndrome with severe neurological involvement: How should it be managed?]

Archives de Pediatrie — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

We report on 2 cases and discuss the treatment. CASE REPORT 1: A 2.5-year-old girl presented with generalized seizures during gastroenteritis. Blood tests revealed features of HUS and a pyramidal syndrome was found on physical examination. Brain MRI, 24h after admission, showed lesions in the periventricular and subcortical area. She was started on peritoneal dialysis (PD) and daily plasma exchanges (PE) for 10 days. Her neurological condition improved quickly as well as the findings of the second brain MRI performed after PE. One year later she had no apparent neurological or renal sequelae. CASE REPORT 2: A 2.5-year-old boy presented with generalized seizures during gastroenteritis for 3 days, leading to a diagnosis of HUS. He also had a severe pyramidal syndrome with spastic tetraparesi...

Semantic interference during object naming in agrammatic and logopenic primary progressive aphasia (PPA).

Brain and Language — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

This study examined the time course of object naming in 21 individuals with primary progressive aphasia (PPA) (8 agrammatic (PPA-G); 13 logopenic (PPA-L)) and healthy age-matched speakers (n=17) using a semantic interference paradigm with related and unrelated interfering stimuli presented at stimulus onset asynchronies (SOAs) of -1000, -500, -100 and 0ms. Results showed semantic interference (SI) (i.e. significantly slower RTs in related compared to unrelated conditions) for all groups at -500, -100 and 0ms, indicating timely spreading activation to semantic competitors. However, both PPA groups showed a greater magnitude of SI than normal across SOAs. The PPA-L group and six PPA-G participants also evinced SI at -1000ms, suggesting an abnormal time course of semantic interference resolut...

Delirium in acute stroke: screening tools, incidence rates and predictors: a systematic review

Journal of Neurology — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 06:56:55 +0100

Abstract Delirium is a common complication in acute stroke yet there is uncertainty regarding how best to screen for and diagnose delirium after stroke. We sought to establish how delirium after stroke is identified, its incidence rates and factors predicting its development. We conducted a systematic review of studies investigating delirium in acute stroke. We searched The Cochrane Collaboration, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINHAL, PsychINFO, Web of Science, British Nursing Index, PEDro and OT Seeker in October 2010. A total of 3,127 citations were screened, full text of 60 titles and abstracts were read, of which 20 studies published between 1984 and 2010 were included in this review. The methods most commonly used to identify delirium were generic assessment tools such as the Deli...

Aphasia induced by gliomas growing in the ventrolateral frontal region: Assessment with diffusion MR tractography, functional MR imaging and neuropsychology

Cortex — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Gliomas growing in the left VPCG are much more likely to cause speech deficits than gliomas infiltrating the IFG, including Broca’s area. Lesion extension to the AF connecting frontal to parietal and temporal regions is an important mechanism for the appearance of aphasia. (Source: Cortex)

How to identify stroke mimics in patients eligible for intravenous thrombolysis?

Journal of Neurology — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 06:48:21 +0100

Abstract Since decision-making for thrombolysis in acute stroke settings is restricted to a limited time window and based on clinical assessment and CT findings only, thrombolysis is sometimes applied to patients with a final diagnosis other than a stroke. From a prospectively collected stroke/MRI data bank (2004–2010) with 648 suspected ischemic stroke patients treated with rtPA, we identified patients without evidence of acute infarction on follow-up MRI and a final diagnosis other than a stroke or acute cerebrovascular event. We compared demographics, symptoms, complications, and outcome of patients with stroke mimics (SM) to those with acute infarction. In 42 patients, an SM was diagnosed: seizures in 20, conversion disorder in seven, dementia in six, migraine in thr...

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Mucinous Adenocarcinoma of Stomach

Diagnostic Imaging — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0100

Clinical History: An 84-year-old male patient, known case of HTN and dyslipidemia, complaining of dysphasia for three months. Anorexia and vomiting. Diagnosed as esophageal adenocarcinoma outside for evaluation. (Source: Diagnostic Imaging)

Recognition

Neurology — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(Source: Neurology)

Attention and Other Cognitive Deficits in Aphasia: Presence and Relation to Language and Communication Measures.

American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: The findings accorded well with prior research identifying (a) attention and other cognitive deficits in most but not all individuals with aphasia, (b) heterogeneity in the types and severity of attention and other cognitive symptoms among those with cognitive impairments, and, (c) potent associations among attention, language, and other cognitive domains. Implications for clinical practice and future research are discussed. PMID: 22230179 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology)

Acquired Apraxia of Speech: The Effects of Repeated Practice and Rate/Rhythm Control Treatments on Sound Production Accuracy.

American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: Repeated practice treatment resulted in improved articulation for the majority of participants. The amount of improvement varied within and across participants. Rate/rhythm control appeared to have limited additional benefits for some participants. PMID: 22230177 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology)

Model Choice and Sample Size in Item Response Theory Analysis of Aphasia Tests.

American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: Incorporating the assumption of guessing into IRT models does improve parameter estimation accuracy, even for small samples. However, caution should be exercised in interpreting scores obtained from easy 2-choice tests, regardless of whether IRT modeling or percent correct scoring is used. PMID: 22230175 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology)

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Clinical genetic studies in benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes

Epilepsia — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

SummaryPurpose: To accurately determine the frequency and nature of the family history of seizures in patients with benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS).Method: Participants with BECTS were recruited from the electroencephalography (EEG) laboratories of three pediatric centers and by referral. Pedigrees were constructed for up to three degrees of relatedness for each proband. All available affected and unaffected individuals underwent phenotyping using a validated seizure questionnaire. The proportion of affected relatives according to degree of relatedness was calculated and phenotypic patterns were analyzed.Key Findings: Fifty‐three probands with BECTS had a mean age of seizure onset at 7.8 years (range 2–12 years). Thirty‐four (64%) of 53 patie...

Regional cerebral perfusion and ischemic status after standard superficial temporal artery–middle cerebral artery (STA-MCA) bypass surgery in ischemic cerebrovascular disease

Child's Nervous System — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 06:58:53 +0100

Conclusions This study has shown that STA-MCA bypass is an effective and safe way to improve the regional cerebral perfusion and ischemic status in ischemic cerebrovascular diseases. The stage based on the regional cerebral microcirculatory change and presentation of CTP can directly reflect the pathological mechanism underlying the regional cerebral ischemic status. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original PaperPages 1-8DOI 10.1007/s00381-011-1658-8Authors Jie Bai, Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, 100050 Beijing, ChinaYuan-li Zhao, Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, 100050 Beijing, ChinaRong Wang, Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical...

Item Level Psychometrics and Predictors of Performance for Spanish/English Bilingual Speakers on An Object and Action Naming Battery.

Journal of speech, language, and hearing research : JSLHR — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest adequate content and construct validity of O&A items retained in the analysis for Spanish/English bilingual adults and support future efforts to evaluate naming in older bilinguals and persons with bilingual aphasia. PMID: 22215032 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Journal of speech, language, and hearing research : JSLHR)

Advanced magnetic resonance neuroimaging of language function recovery after aphasic stroke: a technical review.

Physica Medica — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Smits M, Visch-Brink EG, van de Sandt-Koenderman ME, van der Lugt A Abstract Smits M, Visch-Brink EG, van de Sandt-Koenderman ME, van der Lugt A. Advanced magnetic resonance neuroimaging of language function recovery after aphasic stroke: a technical review. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2012;93(1 Suppl 1):S4-14. Two advanced magnetic resonance neuroimaging techniques, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), have recently made their way into clinically oriented research and hold great promise to study the brain's adaptive changes of function and structure after aphasic stroke, respectively. Such functional and structural neuroplasticity is thought to underlie the recovery of language function, occurring spontaneously and/or in the context o...

Modifying health outcome measures for people with aphasia.

The American Journal of Occupational Therapy — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSION. We provide key recommendations for making self-report measures accessible for people with aphasia. PMID: 22251830 [PubMed - in process] (Source: The American Journal of Occupational Therapy)

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Decision making cognition in primary progressive aphasia.

Behavioural Neurology — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 21:30:21 +0100

Authors: Gleichgerrcht E, Torralva T, Roca M, Szenkman D, Ibanez A, Richly P, Pose M, Manes F Abstract We sought to investigate the decision making profile of Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) by assessing patients diagnosed with this disease (n=10), patients diagnosed with behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD, n=35), and matched controls (n=14) using the Iowa Gambling Task, a widely used test that mimics real-life decision making. Participants were also evaluated with a complete neuropsychological battery. Patients with PPA were unable to adopt an advantageous strategy on the IGT, which resulted in a flat performance, different to that exhibited by both controls (who showed advantageous decision making) and bvFTD patients (who showed risk-appetitive behavior). The dec...

Is It Alzheimer's or a Different Dementia?

About Alzheimers Disease — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia, but not the only one. I've had several conversations with people lately about other types of dementia. Here are a few I've chosen to highlight today. Take normal pressure hydrocephalus, for example. This potentially reversible condition is caused by the building up of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. If the fluid is drained, symptoms sometimes improve. Or, how about frontotemporal dementia (FTD)? FTD is a term that groups several related dementias together, including Behavioral Variant Frontotemporal Dementia, Primary Progressive Aphasia, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy and Corticobasal Degeneration. Sound confusing? These four types of frontotemporal dementia are all caused primarily by changes in the frontal and temporal lobes of the bra...

The Shuttle Walk Test: A New Approach to Functional Walking Capacity Measurements for Patients After Stroke?

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 01:24:28 +0100

Abstract: van Bloemendaal M, Kokkeler AM, van de Port IG. The shuttle walk test: a new approach to functional walking capacity measurements for patients after stroke? Objective: To determine the construct validity, test-retest reliability, and measurement error of the shuttle walk test (SWT) for patients after stroke. Design: Clinimetric study. Setting: Three rehabilitation centers in the Netherlands. Participants: A sample of patients after stroke (N=75; mean age ± SD, 58.8±9.8y) who are capable of walking without physical assistance. Patients were excluded if they had sustained a subarachnoid hemorrhage or a stroke in the cerebellum or brainstem, or had any other conditions that limited their walking capacity more than the current stroke, or had sensory aphasia. Interventions...

Statistical Mapping Analysis of Brain Metabolism in Patients with Subcortical Aphasia after Intracerebral Hemorrhage: A Pilot Study of F-18 FDG PET Images.

Yonsei Medical Journal — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 03:58:57 +0100

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that frontal, parietal, and temporal cortices, which are parts of neural network for cognition, may have a supportive role for language performance in patients with subcortical aphasia after ICH. PMID: 22187231 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Yonsei Medical Journal)

Typicality mediates performance during category verification in both ad-hoc and well-defined categories.

Journal of Communication Disorders — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the degree of semantic impairment mediates the typicality effect in persons with aphasia depending on the structure of the category. Learning outcomes: After reading this article, the reader should be able to: (1) Describe the typicality effect and in which populations it occurs. (2) Explain how the typicality effect might change depending on category structure. (3) Understand how semantic impairment influences category representation and/or access. PMID: 22261305 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Journal of Communication Disorders)

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Rehabilitation of past tense verb production and non-canonical sentence production in left inferior frontal non-fluent aphasia

Latest Issue of Aphasiology — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 03:26:03 +0100

(Source: Latest Issue of Aphasiology)

Augmented input: The effect of visuographic supports on the auditory comprehension of people with chronic aphasia

Latest Issue of Aphasiology — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 03:26:03 +0100

(Source: Latest Issue of Aphasiology)

On natural metalinguistic abilities in aphasia: A preliminary study

Latest Issue of Aphasiology — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 03:26:03 +0100

(Source: Latest Issue of Aphasiology)

SMARTER goal setting in aphasia rehabilitation

Latest Issue of Aphasiology — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 03:26:03 +0100

(Source: Latest Issue of Aphasiology)

An application of the experience sampling method to the study of aphasia: A case report

Latest Issue of Aphasiology — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 03:26:03 +0100

(Source: Latest Issue of Aphasiology)

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Dissociations between fluency and agrammatism in primary progressive aphasia

Latest Issue of Aphasiology — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 03:41:35 +0100

(Source: Latest Issue of Aphasiology)

Repetition priming of picture naming in semantic aphasia: The impact of intervening items

Latest Issue of Aphasiology — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 03:41:35 +0100

(Source: Latest Issue of Aphasiology)

Use of semantic feature analysis in group discourse treatment for aphasia: Extension and expansion

Latest Issue of Aphasiology — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 03:41:35 +0100

(Source: Latest Issue of Aphasiology)

Longitudinal modulation of N400 in chronic non-fluent aphasia using low-frequency rTMS: A randomised placebo controlled trial

Latest Issue of Aphasiology — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 03:41:35 +0100

(Source: Latest Issue of Aphasiology)

Rehabilitation after stroke in older people

Maturitas — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Abstract: Stroke is a leading cause of disability and therefore rehabilitation is a major part of patient care. Most interventions do not target aged patient but there is unequivocal evidence to promote rehabilitation in multidisciplinary stroke units or integrated care of a multidisciplinary team in the community. Most research has focused on the effect of interventions on recovery in different forms of impairment and disability. The most promising options for motor recovery of the arm include constraint-induced movement therapy and robotic-assisted strategies. Interventions to improve postural stability and gait include fitness training, high-intensity therapy, and repetitive-task training. However, information about the clinical effect of various strategies of cognitive rehabilitation a...

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An unexpected evolution of symptomatic mild middle cerebral artery (MCA) stenosis: asymptomatic occlusion

BMC Neurology — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Regardless of the role of metabolic and/or inflammatory factors on the aetiology of the intracranial stenosis in this case, the course of the vessel disease was unexpected and previously unreported in the literature at our knowledge. (Source: BMC Neurology)

A case of semantic variant primary progressive aphasia with severe insular atrophy.

Neurocase — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Chow TW, Links KA, Masterman DL, Mendez MF, Vinters HV Abstract Insular degeneration has been linked to symptoms of frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Presented in this case is a patient exhibiting semantic variant primary progressive aphasia, behavioral disturbance. Upon autopsy, he was found to have severe insular atrophy. In addition, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors were ineffective in reducing symptoms of obsessive-compulsive behaviors or emotional blunting. This case suggests that Seeley et al.'s (2007 , Alzheimer Disease & Associated Disorders, 21, S50) hypothesis that von Economo neurons and fork cell-rich brain regions, particularly in the insula, are targeted in additional subtypes of FTD beyond the behavioral variant. PMID: 22150361 [PubMed - as suppl...

Philip Gross's top 10 writings from the edge of language

Guardian Unlimited Science — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 16:03:53 +0100

From The Waste Land to Jabberwocky, the poet picks his favourite writing from the 'conversation between words and silence'Philip Gross has written for radio and stage, 10 novels for young people, opera libretti and collaborations of all kinds, but he is best known as a poet. His collection The Water Table won the TS Eliot prize, the photographic collaboration I Spy Pinhole Eye (with Simon Denison) was Wales book of the year and Off Road To Everywhere won the CLPE award for children's poetry. His new collection, Deep Field, has just been published by Bloodaxe.Buy Deep Field from the Guardian bookshop"I've just got back from Friesland / Fryslân in the north of Holland, hearing a language spoken that is so close to English that it's like looking at a face through a rain-drenched window. One ...

A tale of two tracers: The age of wisdom for dementia diagnosis?

Neurology — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

(Source: Neurology)

Amyloid vs FDG-PET in the differential diagnosis of AD and FTLD

Neurology — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: PiB and FDG showed similar accuracy in discriminating AD and FTLD. PiB was more sensitive when interpreted qualitatively or quantitatively. FDG was more specific, but only when scans were classified quantitatively. PiB slightly outperformed FDG in patients with known histopathology. (Source: Neurology)

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Discourse treatment for word retrieval impairment in aphasia: The story so far

Latest Issue of Aphasiology — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 04:23:27 +0100

(Source: Latest Issue of Aphasiology)

A comparison of drill- and communication-based treatment for aphasia

Latest Issue of Aphasiology — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 04:23:27 +0100

(Source: Latest Issue of Aphasiology)

Monologues and dialogues in aphasia: Some initial comparisons

Latest Issue of Aphasiology — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 04:23:27 +0100

(Source: Latest Issue of Aphasiology)

A multi-level approach to the analysis of narrative language in aphasia

Latest Issue of Aphasiology — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 04:23:27 +0100

(Source: Latest Issue of Aphasiology)

Personal narratives in aphasia: Coherence in the context of use

Latest Issue of Aphasiology — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 04:23:27 +0100

(Source: Latest Issue of Aphasiology)

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Lexical diversity for adults with and without aphasia across discourse elicitation tasks

Latest Issue of Aphasiology — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 04:23:27 +0100

(Source: Latest Issue of Aphasiology)

Better but no cigar: Persons with aphasia speak about their speech

Latest Issue of Aphasiology — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 04:23:27 +0100

(Source: Latest Issue of Aphasiology)

Addendum

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

The article, “Communication Partner Training in Aphasia: A Systematic Review,” by Nina Simmons-Mackie and colleagues, published in December 2010, has been recommended by the ACRM Board of Governors as a Practice Parameter. Access the article online at www.archives-pmr.org. (Source: Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation)

[DGRW-Update: Neurology - From Empirical Strategies Towards Evidence Based Interventions].

Die Rehabilitation — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Schupp W Abstract Stroke, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and neuropathies are the most important diseases in neurological rehabilitation financed by the German Pension Insurance. The primary goal is vocational (re)integration. Driven by multiple findings of neuroscience research the traditional holistic approach with mainly empirically derived strategies was developed further and improved by new evidence-based interventions. This process had been, and continues to be, necessary to meet the health-economic pressures for ever shorter and more efficient rehab measures. Evidence-based interventions refer to symptom-oriented measures, to team-management concepts, as well as to education and psychosocial interventions. Drug therapy and/or neurophysiologi...

Multiple cerebral infarcts with a few vasculitic lesions in the chronic stage of cerebral amyloid angiopathy‐related inflammation

Neuropathology — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

In conclusion, we consider that, although the association of PR3‐ANCA with the pathogenesis of Aβ‐associated vasculitis remained unclear, the present case represents a rare example of CAA‐related inflammation at the chronic stage. (Source: Neuropathology)

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Discourse in aphasia: An introduction to current research and future directions

Latest Issue of Aphasiology — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 04:48:34 +0100

(Source: Latest Issue of Aphasiology)

Drugs and Impotence

Australasian Medical Journal - AMJ — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 04:45:29 +0100

Discussions with the patient were difficult due to his expressive dysphasia, however the researcher asked him to re-visit his general practitioner who reviewed his medications and changed the prescribed sleeping tablet. Sexual function returned within a week. This case report highlights the need for doctors to initiate conversations about patients’ sexual concerns. (Source: Australasian Medical Journal - AMJ)

Early rehabilitation after surgery improves functional outcome in inpatients with brain tumours

Journal of Neuro-Oncology — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 16:50:13 +0100

Abstract Clinical experience suggests that application of the fundamental principles of rehabilitation medicine can improve the care of patients with cancer. Despite the high incidence of neurological and functional deficits in patients affected by brain tumours (BTs), rehabilitation treatment of this population is not as well established as it is for patients with other neurological conditions. To assess functional outcome in brain tumour inpatients who underwent early rehabilitation after surgery. 75 patients who had undergone neurosurgery for primary BTs and 75 patients affected by stroke were enrolled in a case-control study. All patients were evaluated by means of a core set of clinical scales (Functional Independence Measure, Sitting Balance score, Standing Balance s...

The clinical features of PML

Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

The symptoms associated with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) reflect the location of pathologic brain lesions. These symptoms include visual deficits, cognitive impairment, and motor weakness; in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), presenting signs can also include gait disturbance, dysarthria, dysphasia, and ocular palsy. Recently, PML has been observed in patients treated with biologic agents; natalizumab recipients currently represent the second largest group of patients with PML (behind patients with AIDS). Although brain biopsy is the most accurate and reliable method for diagnosing PML, it is rarely used today. Diagnosis is usually based on detection of JC virus in the cerebrospinal fluid by polymerase chain reaction, the clinical presentation, a...

Covering the Cover

Gastroenterology — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Dysphagia is a common sequelae of stroke that increases the risk of aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition, and dehydration. In this issue of Gastroenterology, Michou et al describe a therapy to increase neuronal plasticity that results in improved swallowing performance in patients with severe, chronic dysphasia from stroke. (Source: Gastroenterology)

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Numeracy skills in patients with degenerative disorders and focal brain lesions: A neuropsychological investigation.

Neuropsychology — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Our results allow us, for the first time, to characterize the numeracy skills in patients with a variety of neurological conditions and to suggest that the pattern of numerical performance can vary considerably across different neurological populations. Moreover, the selective sparing of calculation skills in most semantic dementia and HSE suggest that numerical abilities are an independent component of the semantic system. Finally, our data suggest that, besides the parietal areas, other brain regions might be critical to the understanding and processing of numerical concepts. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: Neuropsychology)

Changes in maps of language function and the integrity of the arcuate fasciculus after therapy for chronic aphasia.

Neurocase — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 14:55:11 +0100

Authors: Breier JI, Juranek J, Papanicolaou AC Abstract A patient with chronic aphasia secondary to unilateral stroke in the left hemisphere underwent language testing, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and functional imaging using magnetoencephalography (MEG) at four time points: 3 weeks prior to, immediately prior to, immediately after, and 3 months after Constraint Induced Language Therapy (CILT). Performance on language tests involving visual naming and repetition of spoken sentences improved between the immediately prior to and immediately after CILT testing sessions, but not between the pre-CILT sessions. MEG activation in putative pre-morbid language areas of the left hemisphere and homotopic areas of the right hemisphere increased immediately after therapy, as did integrity w...

Clinical Outcomes of Cerebral Infarctions in Neonates

Pediatric Neurology — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 13:48:58 +0100

We describe seven neonates with cerebral infarctions. Clinical presentations, perinatal history, perinatal risk factors, cranial magnetic resonance imaging and electroencephalography findings, thrombophilic factors, and clinical outcomes were reviewed. Six patients manifested seizures, whereas one exhibited cyanosis. Six neonates manifested left middle cerebral artery infarctions, and one exhibited a borderzone infarction between the anterior cerebral and middle cerebral arteries. Electroencephalograms indicated epileptiform discharges on the left hemisphere in three neonates with left middle cerebral artery territory infarctions, and epileptiform discharges on both hemispheres in one patient. At most recent follow-up visit, five patients had achieved normal development, whereas one exhibi...

Computed tomography perfusion prognostic maps do not predict reversible and irreversible neurological dysfunction following reperfusion therapies

International Journal of Stroke — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 13:09:47 +0100

Conclusions In‐patients achieving early and complete reperfusion, pretreatment CTP prognostic maps were not predictive for irreversibly or reversibly lost neurologic functions. (Source: International Journal of Stroke)

Good long‐term efficacy of pallidal stimulation in cervical dystonia: a prospective, observer‐blinded study

European Journal of Neurology — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: This single‐blinded study shows good long‐term efficacy of GPi‐DBS in CD patients and supports using this treatment in those who have insufficient response to medical treatment. (Source: European Journal of Neurology)

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Ambient echolalia in a patient with germinoma around the bilateral ventriculus lateralis: A case report.

Neurocase — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

We report the case of a 20-year-old man with a germinoma around the bilateral ventriculus lateralis who exhibited ambient echolalia. Clinical features included instinctive grasp reaction and compulsive manipulation of tools in his right hand. Speech or mental deterioration has been cited as a cause of ambient echolalia, but neither dementia nor aphasia was present. We propose that ambient echolalia in our case could be interpreted as a disinhibition of pre-existing essentially intact motor subroutines due to damage of the medial frontal lobe. PMID: 22117108 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Neurocase)

Microsurgical anatomy of distal medial striate artery (recurrent artery of Heubner)

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 17:44:28 +0100

Conclusion Iatrogenic damage or occlusion leads to a mediobasal striatum infarction with important neurological deficits such as brachiofacial hemiparesis and aphasia. This artery should be routinely identified during clipping of ACoA aneurysm. Special attention in this study was given to atypical posterior course or anatomic variations such as double DMSA on a same side. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original ArticlePages 1-6DOI 10.1007/s00276-011-0888-5Authors Yvan Zunon-Kipré, Laboratoire d’ Anatomie, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, rue des Louvels, 80000 Amiens, FranceJohann Peltier, Laboratoire d’ Anatomie, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, rue des Louvels, 80000 Amiens, FranceAdéréhime Haïdar...

Whole‐brain white matter disruption in semantic and nonfluent variants of primary progressive aphasia

Human Brain Mapping — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

AbstractSemantic (svPPA) and nonfluent (nfPPA) variants of primary progressive aphasia are associated with distinct patterns of cortical atrophy and underlying pathology. Little is known, however, about their contrasting spread of white matter disruption and how this relates to grey matter (GM) loss. We undertook a structural MRI study to investigate this relationship. We used diffusion tensor imaging, tract‐based spatial statistics, and voxel‐based morphometry to examine fractional anisotropy (FA) and directional diffusivities in nine patients with svPPA and nine patients with nfPPA, and compared them to 16 matched controls after accounting for global GM atrophy. Significant differences in topography of white matter changes were found, with more ventral involvement in svPPA patients a...

Family members' report on speech-language pathology and community services for persons with aphasia in Hong Kong.

Disability and Rehabilitation — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 19:00:02 +0100

Conclusions.?The results provide commentary on the existing practices of post-stroke aphasia management in Hong Kong, and will provide new insights into the clinical care of the PWAs and their families. Such knowledge can allow better planning of resource and manpower allocation for aphasia rehabilitation. PMID: 22082073 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Disability and Rehabilitation)

At a Loss for Words

Health — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 07:00:00 +0100

The National Institutes of Health have awarded the UA's Aphasia Research Project in the department of speech, language and hearing sciences a $2 million grant to research communication impairments in adults who have suffered brain injury. (Source: Health)

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Language Skills In Stroke Patients Improve With Magnetic Treatment

Health News from Medical News Today — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 13:00:00 +0100

A study by The University of Queensland has revealed that language skills of individuals who survived a stroke with aphasia could be improved with magnetic stimulation of the brain. The study was conducted by Dr. Caroline Barwood, who recently completed her PhD at the University of Queensland School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. Barwood discovered that the language skills of stroke patients following Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) were significantly improved... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Crossed Aphasia in a Dextral Patient With Logopenic/Phonological Variant of Primary Progressive Aphasia

Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 06:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: This case report provides evidence that crossed PPA can present with a logopenic variant in addition to the nonfluent type demonstrated by others. Functional neuroimaging showed unexpected right-sided hypoperfusion in this case with only subtle structural brain asymmetry, implicating a reverse pattern of language dominance. (C) 2011 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc. (Source: Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders)

The Philadelphia Brief Assessment of Cognition (PBAC): A Validated Screening Measure for Dementia.

The Clinical Neuropsychologist — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Libon DJ, Rascovsky K, Gross RG, White MT, Xie SX, Dreyfuss M, Boller A, Massimo L, Moore P, Kitain J, Coslett HB, Chatterjee A, Grossman M Abstract The Philadelphia Brief Assessment of the Cognition (PBAC) is a brief dementia-screening instrument. The PBAC assesses five cognitive domains: working memory/executive control; lexical retrieval/language; visuospatial/visuoconstructional operations; verbal/visual episodic memory; and behavior/social comportment. A revised version of the PBAC was administered to 198 participants including patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) (n = 46) and four groups of patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) syndromes: behavioral-variant FTD (bvFTD; n = 65), semantic-variant primary progressive aphasia (PPA) (svPPA; n = 22), no...

Brain Involvement in Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders [Original Contribution]

Archives of Neurology — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusion Brain involvement manifesting clinically as brainstem encephalitis is common among Hong Kong Chinese patients with NMOSDs. (Source: Archives of Neurology)

Comparison of machine learning methods for classifying aphasic and non-aphasic speakers

Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 16:39:29 +0100

Abstract: The performance of eight machine learning classifiers were compared with three aphasia related classification problems. The first problem contained naming data of aphasic and non-aphasic speakers tested with the Philadelphia Naming Test. The second problem included the naming data of Alzheimer and vascular disease patients tested with Finnish version of the Boston Naming Test. The third problem included aphasia test data of patients suffering from four different aphasic syndromes tested with the Aachen Aphasia Test. The first two data sets were small. Therefore, the data used in the tests were artificially generated from the original confrontation naming data of 23 and 22 subjects, respectively. The third set contained aphasia test data of 146 aphasic speakers and was used as suc...

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[Successful therapy and rehabilitation following stroke in a pregnant woman with prosthetic aortic valve].

Kardiologia Polska — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 18:25:08 +0100

This report describes a case of a 40 year-old woman with implanted aortic prosthetic valve, who experienced thrombo-embolic complication in a form of ischaemic stroke in 15 week of pregnancy. At the beginning of the event, the patient suffered from mixed aphasia, right-side paresis and depressive syndrome. Thanks to cooperation of many specialists, especially rehabilitation team, she restored overall physical efficiency, speaking ability, delivered a healthy child, and returned to normal family and social activity. Problems of anti-thrombotic therapy during pregnancy in patients with prosthetic valves are discussed. PMID: 21678300 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] (Source: Kardiologia Polska)

Rapid improvement of a complex migrainous episode with sodium valproate in a patient with CADASIL

The Journal of Headache and Pain — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 17:12:56 +0100

We describe a 44-year-old male with CADASIL, who presented with sudden-onset aphasia and decreased responsiveness after prolonged, severe migraine attack. Subsequently, the patient had two generalized seizures. A subtle status epilepticus was suspected because of drowsiness and seizures, and intravenous sodium valproate medication was initiated. EEG recording showed left hemispheric attenuation but no spike discharges, thus not confirming epileptic mechanism. The clinical status of the patient improved markedly after the initiation of valproate. The patient started speaking again; drowsiness and headache subsided. In repeated EEG recording, the left hemispheric attenuation disappeared. Diffusion weighted MR imaging showed no signs of recent ischemic events. The patient recovered full...

Ischaemic stroke following tranexamic acid in young patients carrying heterozygosity of MTHFR C677T

Annals of Clinical Biochemistry — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100

The objective of this study is to report a new manifestation of acute stroke following antifibrinolytic agent administration in young women carrying heterozygosity for methylene-tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T. The study included two young women who developed an acute ischaemic stroke following three days of tranexamic acid administration for bleeding gynaecological disorders. Case 1, a 44-year-old woman, presented left hemiplegia, mild dysarthria and anosognosia. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed right ischaemic fronto-temporal lesion due to subocclusion of the right middle cerebral artery. Case 2, a 49-year-old woman, developed aphasia and right hemiplegia. Neuroimaging showed left capsular and periventricular infarcts due to near occlusion of the left internal carotid art...

Intracranial hemorrhage from undiagnosed metastatic brain tumor during general anesthesia

Journal of Clinical Anesthesia — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Abstract: A patient with endometrial cancer presented with intracranial hemorrhage from an undiagnosed metastatic brain tumor during abdominal radical hysterectomy. Since she was neurologically intact, a systematic examination for brain metastasis had not been performed preoperatively. After the surgery, she had delayed recovery from general anesthesia with right hemiplegia and aphasia. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed left putaminal hemorrhage from brain metastasis. (Source: Journal of Clinical Anesthesia)

Is recurrent perseveration a product of deafferented functional systems with otherwise normal post-activation decay rates?

Clinical Linguistics and Phonetics — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100

This article will discuss and evaluate how various proposals from theory, from the clinic and from drug therapy interact and compete in the search for a cause or causes of recurrent perseveration. PMID: 22106897 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Clinical Linguistics and Phonetics)

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The treatment of anomia in Sesotho: A case for parametric aphasiology.

Clinical Linguistics and Phonetics — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100

This article describes an intervention study with two Sesotho-speaking individuals with anomia. Sesotho as a noun class and syllable-timed language offers the opportunity to study the influence of cueing techniques, which are based on such linguistic parameters. Word lists were designed using non-aphasic participants and three cueing techniques for anomia were evaluated over a period of 4 months. Findings suggested a positive response to the techniques of true phonemic cueing and prosodic cueing, whereas initial phonemic cueing (a technique commonly used for English-speaking anomic patients) had no impact. This supports the need for a parametrically informed approach to aphasia therapy and strengthens the recommendation that a linguistic basis is paramount in the training of effective clin...

Total laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy: beyond selected patients.

The American Surgeon — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100

This study is to evaluate the feasibility of LDP and procedural outcomes in a series of consecutive nonselected patients. All patients undergoing distal pancreatectomy over 18 months were identified from a prospectively maintained database, under institutional review board approval. A completely laparoscopic (non hand-assisted) procedure was performed using a 4-trocar technique. Conversion to an open procedure, operative time (OR), estimated blood loss (EBL), transfusion requirements, postoperative length of stay (LOS), and complications were assessed. Sixteen patients were identified; 2/16 patients had undergone distal pancreatectomy as a component of another multiorgan open procedure, and were thus excluded. The remaining 14 patients had consented for LDP. Conversion occurred in 4/14 cas...

Reading and writing with aphasia in the 21st century: technological applications of supported reading comprehension and written expression.

Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Speech-language pathologists must consider available Web-based communication strategies during the aphasia rehabilitation process. In particular, interventions designed to support the reading comprehension and written expression of people with aphasia should be adapted to meet the increasing trend to utilize Web-based technology to maintain or redefine social roles following a stroke. PMID: 22233872 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation)

The assessment of low mood in stroke patients with aphasia: reliability and validity of the 10-item Hospital version of the Stroke Aphasic Depression Questionnaire (SADQH-10).

Clinical Rehabilitation — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: The SADQH-10 is both a valid and reliable observational screening measure of depressive symptoms for stroke patients with aphasia. PMID: 22023890 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Clinical Rehabilitation)

Crossed aphasia following an infarction in the right corpus callosum

Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Abstract: A 68-year-old right-handed woman with no history of brain damage or familial left-handedness was admitted to our hospital due to the acute onset of speech difficulty; her speech was nonfluent. Literal and phonological paraphasias, agrammatism and paragrammatism were observed. Brain MRI revealed an acute infarction in the right anterior cerebral artery territory, involving the right corpus callosum. Moreover, cerebral blood flow was decreased not only in the area of the right corpus callosum but also in the left fronto-temporal lobe, suggesting crossed diaschisis. This is a rare case of crossed aphasia following an infarction in the right corpus callosum. (Source: Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery)

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Early speech therapy key to improving communication in stroke patients

MedWire News - Stroke — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0100

In stroke patients with moderate to severe aphasia, daily speech therapy begun very soon after the stroke event can improve communication to a greater degree than usual care, suggest study results. (Source: MedWire News - Stroke)

Global aphasia without hemiparesis: A case series

Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: GAWH could result from both embolic and large vessel strokes and single or multiple lesions. The recovery pattern may be variable and may show lack of clinico-anatomical correlation indicating anomalous cerebral functional reorganization, questioning the conventional teaching of language representation in the brain. (Source: Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology)

Non-convulsive status epilepticus in brain tumors

Neurological Sciences — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 15:06:37 +0100

Abstract Epileptic seizures are very common in brain tumors, depending on histology and tumor site. In low-grade gliomas, it can be the only symptom reaching the 100% of incidence. Pathophysiology is multifactorial and still not perfectly understood. In a high percentage of cases, epilepsy is pharmacoresistant. Surgical resection of tumors can cure it. It happens more easily in low-grade gliomas, with a preoperative epilepsy evaluation, followed by a tailored surgery, not limited to lesionectomy, and including the peritumoral epileptic focus. In high-grade gliomas, postoperative epilepsy recurrence cannot only be due to tumor recurrence, but also to bad pharmacological compliance, or to pharmacoresistance. Seizures may be clustered in a non-convulsive status epilepticus. T...

Written media coverage of aphasia: A review

Latest Issue of Aphasiology — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 03:30:00 +0100

(Source: Latest Issue of Aphasiology)

Comparing monitoring and production based approaches to the treatment of phonological assembly difficulties in aphasia

Latest Issue of Aphasiology — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 03:30:00 +0100

(Source: Latest Issue of Aphasiology)

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Remediation of language processing in aphasia: Improving activation and maintenance of linguistic representations in (verbal) short-term memory

Latest Issue of Aphasiology — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 04:18:39 +0100

(Source: Latest Issue of Aphasiology)

Very early poststroke aphasia therapy: a pilot randomized controlled efficacy trial

International Journal of Stroke — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusions Daily aphasia therapy in very early stroke recovery improved communication outcomes in people with moderate to severe aphasia. (Source: International Journal of Stroke)

White matter damage in primary progressive aphasias: a diffusion tensor tractography study

Brain — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

This study demonstrates that both careful dissection of the main language tracts and consideration of all diffusion tensor metrics are necessary to characterize the white matter changes that occur in the variants of primary progressive aphasia. These results highlight the potential value of diffusion tensor imaging as a new tool in the multimodal diagnostic evaluation of primary progressive aphasia. (Source: Brain)

Subtypes of progressive aphasia: application of the international consensus criteria and validation using {beta}-amyloid imaging

Brain — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Primary progressive aphasia comprises a heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative conditions with diverse clinical profiles and underlying pathological substrates. A major development has been the publication of the recent International Consensus Criteria for the three major variants namely: semantic, non-fluent/agrammatic and logopenic. The logopenic variant is assumed to represent an atypical presentation of Alzheimer pathology although evidence for this is, at present, limited. The semantic and non-fluent/agrammatic variants are largely associated with frontotemporal lobar degeneration with TDP-43 and tau pathology, respectively. The applicability of the International Consensus Criteria to an unselected clinical sample is unknown and no agreed clinical evaluation scale on which to derive...

Abnormal functional lateralization and activity of language brain areas in typical specific language impairment (developmental dysphasia)

Brain — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

This study thus provides evidence that this subtype of specific language impairment is associated with atypical lateralization and functioning of core language areas. (Source: Brain)

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Spatial orienting by left hemisphere language areas: a relict from the past?

Brain — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

During evolution, the human brain developed remarkable functional differences between left and right hemispheres. Due to this lateralization, disorders of spatial orienting occur predominantly after right brain damage and disorders of language after left brain damage. In contrast to this general pattern, few individuals show disturbed spatial orienting (spatial neglect) after left brain damage. Using a voxel-based lesion analysis approach, we found that neglect after acute left brain damage is represented in areas typically serving language functions, namely the superior and middle temporal gyri, inferior parietal lobule and insula. Since all except one of these patients also suffered from aphasia, we conclude that lateralization is not just reversed but that both functions (language and s...

The neural correlates of inner speech defined by voxel-based lesion-symptom mapping

Brain — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

In this study, 17 patients with chronic post-stroke aphasia performed inner speech tasks (rhyme and homophone judgements), and overt speech tasks (reading aloud). The relationship between brain structure and language ability was studied using voxel-based lesion–symptom mapping. This showed that inner speech abilities were affected by lesions to the left pars opercularis in the inferior frontal gyrus and to the white matter adjacent to the left supramarginal gyrus, over and above overt speech production and working memory. These results suggest that inner speech cannot be assumed to be simply overt speech without a motor component. It also suggests that the use of overt speech to understand inner speech and vice versa might result in misleading conclusions, both in imaging studies and...

Rhythm in disguise: why singing may not hold the key to recovery from aphasia

Brain — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

The question of whether singing may be helpful for stroke patients with non-fluent aphasia has been debated for many years. However, the role of rhythm in speech recovery appears to have been neglected. In the current lesion study, we aimed to assess the relative importance of melody and rhythm for speech production in 17 non-fluent aphasics. Furthermore, we systematically alternated the lyrics to test for the influence of long-term memory and preserved motor automaticity in formulaic expressions. We controlled for vocal frequency variability, pitch accuracy, rhythmicity, syllable duration, phonetic complexity and other relevant factors, such as learning effects or the acoustic setting. Contrary to some opinion, our data suggest that singing may not be decisive for speech production in non...

Sigmund Freud's evolution from neurology to psychiatry: Evidence from his La Salpetriere library

Neurology — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: The library of Freud gives an interesting account on his own evolving thinking, which led him to leave neurology for psychology and psychoanalysis. (Source: Neurology)

Compound nouns in spoken language production by speakers with aphasia compared to neurologically healthy speakers: An exploratory study.

Clinical Linguistics and Phonetics — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

This study investigates the production of nominal compounds in semi-spontaneous spoken texts by a group of speakers with fluent types of aphasia compared to a group of neurologically healthy speakers. The speakers with aphasia produce significantly fewer nominal compound types in their texts than the non-aphasic speakers, and the compounds they produce exhibit fewer different types of semantic relations than the compounds produced by the non-aphasic speakers. The results are discussed in relation to theories of language processing. PMID: 21967452 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Clinical Linguistics and Phonetics)

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The influence of psycholinguistic variables on articulatory errors in naming in progressive motor speech degeneration.

Clinical Linguistics and Phonetics — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

We describe an analysis of speech errors on a confrontation naming task in a man with progressive speech degeneration of 10-year duration from Pick's disease. C.S. had a progressive non-fluent aphasia together with a motor speech impairment and early assessment indicated some naming impairments. There was also an absence of significant phonological or semantic impairment. In order to examine naming difficulties and the factors that influence his speech production errors, we selected 210 words varying in frequency, age of acquisition (AoA), imageability, phonemic length and syllable length and conducted a logistic regression analysis on a range of speech production error types (phone omissions, additions, substitutions, response delays, overall errors). No significant naming errors due to l...

Poster 98 Stroke Survivors with Aphasia May Overestimate Communication Skills: Survivor versus Caregiver Report

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Unawareness of cognitive deficit (cognitive anosognosia) may occur in neurological disorders. We wished to investigate whether stroke survivors with aphasia overestimated their own communication skills, relative to their caregivers, using a valid and reliable measure of reported communication ability. (Source: Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation)

Progressive nonfluent aphasia: A rare clinical subtype of FTLD‐TDP in Japan

Neuropathology — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Progressive nonfluent aphasia (PNFA) is a clinical subtype of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). FTLD with tau accumulation (FTLD‐tau) and FTLD with TDP‐43 accumulation (FTLD‐TDP) both cause PNFA. We reviewed clinical records of 29 FTLD‐TDP cases in the brain archive of our institute and found only one case of PNFA. The patient was an 81‐year‐old male at death. There was no family history of dementia or aphasia. He presented with slow, labored and nonfluent speech at age 75. Behavioral abnormality and movement disorders were absent. MRI at age 76 demonstrated atrophy of the perisylvian regions, including the inferior frontal gyrus, insular gyrus and superior temporal gyrus. The atrophy was more severe in the left hemisphere than the right. On post mortem examinations, ne...

[Development of biventricular large apical thrombi and cerebral embolism in a young woman with peripartum cardiomyopathy].

Turk Kardiyoloji Dernegi arsivi — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Authors: Koç M, Sahin DY, Tekin K, Caylı M Abstract Peripartum cardiomyopathy is a rare cardiac disorder. Although left ventricular apical thrombus formation is common in peripartum cardiomyopathy, biventricular apical thrombi formation is a very rare condition in these patients. A 21-year-old woman presented with complaints of dyspnea, orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, and palpitations that appeared three months after labor. Transthoracic echocardiography showed severe global hypokinesis, decreased left and right ventricular ejection fraction (left 30%, right 35%), increased left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (60 mm), grade 2 mitral regurgitation, and biventricular apical thrombi. On the second day of admission, she developed global aphasia and right hemiplegia. The...

Intensity of Aphasia Therapy: Evidence and Efficacy

Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 05:51:59 +0100

Abstract Determining the optimal amount and intensity of treatment is essential to the design and implementation of any treatment program for aphasia. A growing body of evidence, both behavioral and biological, suggests that intensive therapy positively impacts outcomes. We update a systematic review of treatment studies that directly compares conditions of higher and lower intensity treatment for aphasia. We identify five studies published since 2006, review them for methodologic quality, and synthesize their findings with previous ones. For both acute and chronic aphasia, results at the language impairment and communication activity/participation levels tend to be more equivocal than previously demonstrated, with no clear differences between intensive and nonintensive tr...

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A Middle-Aged Woman with Logopenic Progressive Aphasia as a Precursor of Alzheimer's Disease: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 16:29:26 +0100

We report the case of a middle-aged woman who presented to our center with progressive aphasia that was undiagnosed for two years. The patient's neurological evaluation including positron emission tomography is consistent with a logopenic variant of primary progressive aphasia. (Source: Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology)

Dystypia Without Aphasia Associated With Visuospatial Memory Impairment in a Patient With Acute Stroke

Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Keyboard typing is a multifunctional task related to language, visual-spatial and motor abilities. If one of these functions is impaired, difficulty during typing could occur. Here, a 64-year-old right-handed man is reported who developed a sudden typing disturbance without aphasia or neglect. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed discrete acute infarcts in the border-zone regions, bilaterally, predominantly in the left hemisphere. The neuropsychiatric testing showed an impaired visual-spatial memory domain; however, other cognitive functions were all normal. These findings suggest that visual-spatial memory impairment, associated with a left frontal subcortical infarct, is a probable anatomic substrate associated with the inability to type. (C) 2011 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins,...

Aphasia Centers: A Growing Trend in North America

Seminars in Speech and Language — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Semin Speech Lang 2011; 32: 199-202DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1286174© Thieme Medical PublishersArticle in Thieme eJournals:Table of contents | FREE Full text (Source: Seminars in Speech and Language)

“Waiting on the Words”: Procedures and Outcomes of a Drama Class for Individuals with Aphasia

Seminars in Speech and Language — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

We describe the rationale and procedures of a drama class, informed by the principles and practices of drama therapy, in which individuals with chronic aphasia conceptualized, wrote, and produced a play addressing their experiences of having, living with, and coping with the effects of aphasia. Sessions were cofacilitated by a speech-language pathologist and a drama therapist. We describe the drama activities and techniques in each of four distinct stages of a drama therapy process through which the group transitioned. We also summarize patient-reported outcomes of a representational group of seven participants. Subscales of the Burden of Stroke Scale and the Communication Confidence Rating Scale for Aphasia were administered before and after participation in the 18-week class. Means, stan...

A-FROM in Action at the Aphasia Institute

Seminars in Speech and Language — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

This article describes Living with Aphasia: Framework for Outcome Measurement and its practical application to aphasia centers in the areas of direct service, outcome measurement, and advocacy and awareness. Examples will be drawn from the Aphasia Institute in Toronto. A case will be made for all aphasia centers to use the ICF or an adaptation of it to further the work of this sector and strengthen its credibility.[...]© Thieme Medical PublishersArticle in Thieme eJournals:Table of contents | Abstract | Full text (Source: Seminars in Speech and Language)

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Community: The Key to Building and Extending Engagement for Individuals with Aphasia

Seminars in Speech and Language — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

This article aims to present perspective on that process from a program that utilizes a unique center without walls concept.[...]© Thieme Medical PublishersArticle in Thieme eJournals:Table of contents | Abstract | Full text (Source: Seminars in Speech and Language)

Aphasia Centers in North America: A Survey

Seminars in Speech and Language — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Semin Speech Lang 2011; 32: 203-215DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1286175ABSTRACTThere is a growing trend toward dedicated programs designed to improve the lives of people with aphasia and their families. We are referring to these programs collectively as “aphasia centers.” These programs purportedly differ from more traditional medically based aphasia rehabilitation. However, there is no directory of aphasia centers and no definition of what constitutes such a program. Therefore, an online survey was designed to identify and describe aphasia centers in the United States and Canada. A 37-question survey was posted online via SurveyMonkey. An introductory letter was distributed by electronic mail to a listserv and mailing lists of programs associated with aphasia. Potential respondents who conside...

Starting an Aphasia Center?

Seminars in Speech and Language — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

This article provides initial issues to review and consider when deciding whether starting a new organization is right for you. Determining the need for the program in your community, the best size and possible affiliation for the organization, and available resources, as well as developing a business plan, marketing the program, and building awareness in the community, are some of the factors that are discussed. Specific examples related to starting the Aphasia Center of California are provided.[...]© Thieme Medical PublishersArticle in Thieme eJournals:Table of contents | Abstract | Full text (Source: Seminars in Speech and Language)

Teaching Nursing Assistant Students about Aphasia and Communication

Seminars in Speech and Language — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Semin Speech Lang 2011; 32: 243-255DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1286178ABSTRACTResearch indicates that communication between patients with communication disorders and their health care providers may be compromised, which leads to adverse outcomes and reduced participation in patients' own health care. Emerging studies demonstrate that effective communication education programs may decrease communication difficulties. This feasibility study of an education program that includes people with aphasia as educators aims to improve nursing assistant students' knowledge of aphasia and awareness of supported communication strategies while also examining the experiences of participants with aphasia. This preliminary study suggests that explicit aphasia and communication training delivered in this format has ...

Fatalism, Optimism, Spirituality, Depressive Symptoms, and Stroke Outcome: A Population-Based Analysis.

Stroke — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: Among patients who have already had a stroke, self-described prestroke depressive symptoms and fatalism, but not optimism or spirituality, are associated with increased risk of stroke recurrence and mortality. Unconventional risk factors may explain some of the variability in stroke outcomes observed in populations and may be novel targets for intervention. PMID: 21940963 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Stroke)

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The Aphasia Institute in Toronto receives prestigious Robin Tavistock Award

Speakability — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 13:59:00 +0100

The Trustees of the Tavistock Trust for Aphasia are delighted to announce that the Aphasia Institute in Toronto, Canada is the first international recipient of The Robin Tavistock Award. (Source: Speakability)

A 17-month-old boy with cerebral infarction following mild respiratory symptoms

Journal of Clinical Virology — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

A 17-month-old boy, who had no history of immunological or neurological disorder, was admitted to our hospital because of acute right hemiparesis and aphasia. Mild upper respiratory symptoms had been recognized for a week prior to his hospitalization. He had no family history of immunological or hematological disorders. Pharyngitis, skin rash, lymphadenopathy and hepatosplenomegaly were absent on admission. The examination of the respiratory and cardiac systems was unremarkable. He could not speak any meaningful words, and presented hemiparesis and facial palsy in the right side. Grading of muscle strength was 0/5 and 2/5, on the right upper and right lower extremities, respectively. Deep tendon reflex was slightly exaggerated with positive Babinski's sign on the right side. (Source: Journ...

An Exciting New Free Online Resource for People with Aphasia

Speakability — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 15:46:49 +0100

(Source: Speakability)

Phase I Dose-Finding Study of Vandetanib in Combination with Gemcitabine in Locally Advanced Unresectable or Metastatic Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma.

Oncology — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Vandetanib 100 mg/day is the RD in combination with gemcitabine in the treatment of patients with advanced PAC. PMID: 21921646 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Oncology)

The role of Broca's area in speech perception: Evidence from aphasia revisited.

Brain and Language — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Authors: Hickok G, Costanzo M, Capasso R, Miceli G Abstract Motor theories of speech perception have been re-vitalized as a consequence of the discovery of mirror neurons. Some authors have even promoted a strong version of the motor theory, arguing that the motor speech system is critical for perception. Part of the evidence that is cited in favor of this claim is the observation from the early 1980s that individuals with Broca's aphasia, and therefore inferred damage to Broca's area, can have deficits in speech sound discrimination. Here we re-examine this issue in 24 patients with radiologically confirmed lesions to Broca's area and various degrees of associated non-fluent speech production. Patients performed two same-different discrimination tasks involving pairs of CV syllabl...

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Changes in cuff pressure of endotracheal tube during laparoscopic and open abdominal surgery

Surgical Endoscopy — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 05:47:16 +0100

Conclusion This study indicates that the CO2 pneumoperitoneum and Trendelenburg position used during laparoscopy increase endotracheal cuff pressure and lead to discomfort in the postoperative patient. Measurement of endotracheal cuff pressure is a simple and inexpensive procedure and should be applied in patients under going laparoscopic surgery. Content Type Journal ArticlePages 1-4DOI 10.1007/s00464-011-1886-8Authors Zeynep Baysal Yildirim, Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Harran University, Sanliurfa, TurkeyAli Uzunkoy, Department of General Surgery, Harran University, Sanliurfa, TurkeyAli Cigdem, Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Harran University, Sanliurfa, TurkeySuleyman Ganidagli, Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Gazian...

Sensitivity of revised diagnostic criteria for the behavioural variant of frontotemporal dementia

Brain — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

In conclusion, the revised criteria for behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia improve diagnostic accuracy compared with previously established criteria in a sample with known frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Greater sensitivity of the proposed criteria may reflect the optimized diagnostic features, less restrictive exclusion features and a flexible structure that accommodates different initial clinical presentations. Future studies will be needed to establish the reliability and specificity of these revised diagnostic guidelines. (Source: Brain)

The clinical diagnosis of early-onset dementias: diagnostic accuracy and clinicopathological relationships

Brain — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

In this study, we examine diagnostic accuracy in a consecutive series of 228 patients referred to a specialist early-onset dementia clinic, whose brains were subsequently examined at post-mortem. Diagnosis was based on structured history, neurological examination and neuropsychological assessment, with emphasis on qualitative as well as quantitative aspects of performance. Neuroimaging provided support for but did not alter the clinical diagnosis. We set out the principles that guided diagnosis: (i) time course of illness; (ii) weighting of physical, behavioural and cognitive symptoms and signs; (iii) ‘anterior’ versus ‘posterior’ hemisphere character of cognitive change; and (iv) specificity of deficit, paying attention to the differentiation between syndromes of f...

Clinical and neuroanatomical signatures of tissue pathology in frontotemporal lobar degeneration

Brain — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Relating clinical symptoms to neuroanatomical profiles of brain damage and ultimately to tissue pathology is a key challenge in the field of neurodegenerative disease and particularly relevant to the heterogeneous disorders that comprise the frontotemporal lobar degeneration spectrum. Here we present a retrospective analysis of clinical, neuropsychological and neuroimaging (volumetric and voxel-based morphometric) features in a pathologically ascertained cohort of 95 cases of frontotemporal lobar degeneration classified according to contemporary neuropathological criteria. Forty-eight cases (51%) had TDP-43 pathology, 42 (44%) had tau pathology and five (5%) had fused-in-sarcoma pathology. Certain relatively specific clinicopathological associations were identified. Semantic dementia was p...

Motor Neuron dysfunction in frontotemporal dementia

Brain — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Frontotemporal dementia and motor neuron disease share clinical, genetic and pathological characteristics. Motor neuron disease develops in a proportion of patients with frontotemporal dementia, but the incidence, severity and functional significance of motor system dysfunction in patients with frontotemporal dementia has not been determined. Neurophysiological biomarkers have been developed to document motor system dysfunction including: short-interval intracortical inhibition, a marker of corticospinal motor neuron dysfunction and the neurophysiological index, a marker of lower motor neuron dysfunction. The present study performed detailed clinical and neurophysiological assessments on 108 participants including 40 consecutive patients with frontotemporal dementia, 42 age- and gender-mat...

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Borderzone Strokes and Transcortical Aphasia

Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 05:46:23 +0100

Abstract Borderzone infarcts (BZIs) are anatomically defined as ischemic lesions occurring at the junction between two arterial territories, accounting for 2% to 10% of strokes. Three types of hemispheric BZIs are described according to topography (ie, superficial anterior, posterior, and deep). Although published series on related aphasia are rare in the setting of BZI, aphasia is of transcortical (TCA) type, characterized by the preservation of repetition. TCA can be of motor, sensory, or mixed type depending on whether expression, understanding, or both are impaired. Recent studies have reported specific aphasic patterns. BZI patients initially presented with mixed TCA. Aphasia specifically evolved according to the stroke location, toward motor or sensory TCA in patient...

Impact of Brain Tumor Location on Morbidity and Mortality: A Retrospective Functional MR Imaging Study [FUNCTIONAL]

American Journal of Neuroradiology — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that tumors may affect language and motor function differently depending on tumor LAD. Overall, the data support the use of fMRI as a tool to evaluate patient prognosis and are directly applicable to neurosurgical planning. (Source: American Journal of Neuroradiology)

Intermittent Broca’s aphasia management in an emergency unit: from theory to practice

Neurological Sciences — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 15:50:30 +0100

Abstract Although Broca’s aphasia (BA) may mimic different neurological illness, its sudden onset often requires an emergency approach. In this paper, the management of a case of intermittent BA occurred in a young woman without history of neurological, cardiovascular and arrhythmic diseases is discussed. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging showed two areas of hypoperfusion in the terminal branches of the left medial cerebral artery not previously diagnosed by computed tomography. Although there were no eligibility criteria for thrombolysis, patient received intravenous treatment with recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) over 1 h and at the end of rt-PA infusion aphasia completely disappeared without neurological sequelae. Transesophageal ...

Why do people lose their friends after a stroke?

International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusions and Implications: Given the link between depression and loss of friends post stroke, supporting an individual in maintaining a social network is likely to be beneficial. For intervention to be effective, however, it may need to take into account not only the impact of new physical and language disabilities, but also changing social desires. PMID: 21899670 [PubMed - in process] (Source: International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders)

Validation of the language component of the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination - Revised (ACE-R) as a screening tool for aphasia in stroke patients.

Australasian Journal on Ageing — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Our results suggest that the language component of ACE-R has a satisfactory sensitivity and specificity compared with other screening tests used in strokes. It is easy to administer and free to use. PMID: 21923710 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Australasian Journal on Ageing)

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Living successfully with aphasia: family members share their views.

Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Findings provide evidence to support previous research indicating that aphasia affects the whole family and not just an individual. The inclusion of family members as part of the rehabilitation team is indicated. Family members' needs and priorities must be considered in conceptualizing living successfully with aphasia to ensure family members are included in intervention programs. PMID: 22082703 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Topics in Stroke Rehabilitation)

Impact of Brain Tumor Location on Morbidity and Mortality: A Retrospective Functional MR Imaging Study [FUNCTIONAL]

American Journal of Neuroradiology — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that tumors may affect language and motor function differently depending on tumor LAD distance. Overall, the data support the use of fMRI as a tool to evaluate patient prognosis and are directly applicable to preoperative neurosurgical planning. (Source: American Journal of Neuroradiology)

Parkinson’s disease showing progressive conduction aphasia

Neurological Sciences — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 15:59:15 +0100

We describe a female PD patient who later developed progressive conduction aphasia characterized by phonemic paraphasia and disturbance in repetition of short sentences without disturbance in writing or auditory comprehension. No episodes of fluctuations of attention, memory complaints, or planning errors were observed. She experienced episodes of visual hallucination. Her low scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination suggested impairment of orientation and attention, and her scores on Raven’s Coloured Progressive Matrices test indicated impaired visuospatial functions. However, her cognitive deficits were not sufficiently severe to impair her daily life. Brain magnetic resonance images revealed atrophy of the left superior temporal gyrus and widening of the left sylvian fissure....

Involvement in volunteering: an exploration of the personal experience of people with aphasia.

Disability and Rehabilitation — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 06:40:03 +0100

This article reports results from a qualitative study in the UK of people with aphasia who have been involved in volunteering. The study describes their experiences; explores, from their perspective, the effects of involvement; and identifies key facilitators and barriers to the successful participation of people with aphasia in community activity. Data were collected by means of 10 individual semi-structured interviews using supported conversation techniques and through a focus group involving five more people. All participants had aphasia following a stroke. Average length of time since stroke for participants in the individual interviews was 5.6 years (range 3-12 years) and for participants in the focus group was 4.6 (range 1-10 years). Results are discussed according to four themes: (i...

Perfusion computer tomography helps to differentiate seizure and stroke in acute setting

Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100

We report the case of a patient with an acute onset of aphasia and right-sided hemiparesis, in which a P-CT scan revealed regional hyperperfusion and further diagnostic supported an epileptic origin. (Source: Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery)

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A MEG Investigation of Single-Word Auditory Comprehension in Aphasia.

Journal of speech, language, and hearing research : JSLHR — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight the usefulness of temporally sensitive measures when studying aphasia, and demonstrate that the latency of electrophysiological markers is of interest in this population. In particular, increased M350 latency appears to be indicative of a semantic processing impairment. PMID: 21862679 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Journal of speech, language, and hearing research : JSLHR)

TMS suppression of right pars triangularis, but not pars opercularis, improves naming in aphasia.

Brain and Language — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100

This study sought to discover if an optimum 1 cm(2) area in the non-damaged right hemisphere (RH) was present, which could temporarily improve naming in chronic, nonfluent aphasia patients when suppressed with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). Ten minutes of slow, 1Hz rTMS was applied to suppress different RH ROIs in eight aphasia cases. Picture naming and response time (RT) were examined before, and immediately after rTMS. In aphasia patients, suppression of right pars triangularis (PTr) led to significant increase in pictures named, and significant decrease in RT. Suppression of right pars opercularis (POp), however, led to significant increase in RT, but no change in number of pictures named. Eight normals named all pictures correctly; similar to aphasia patients, RT ...

A case of hypertensive intraventricular hemorrhage bled from the hippocampus

Neurological Sciences — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 06:03:53 +0100

Abstract The hippocampus is not a usual origin of bleeding due to hypertension. A 66-year-old male suffered from headache and abnormal behavior. Computed tomographic images showed an intraventricular hemorrhage predominantly located in the right lateral ventricle. His arterial blood pressure was 198/92 mmHg on admission. No apparent vascular anomaly was demonstrated on a digital subtraction angiogram. Two months after the onset, his mini-mental status examination showed full recovery from the score of 19 at onset, and most of his memory disturbances were improved except for visual memory disturbance. A follow-up magnetic resonance image revealed that the hemosiderin was stained in the atrophic right hippocampus, and the final diagnosis was hypertensive intraventricular...

[Comment] Disentangling Alzheimer's disease

Lancet Neurology — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 03:33:21 +0100

There is an apparent discrepancy between clinical and pathological data in Alzheimer's disease (AD): the clinician insists on the diversity of clinical syndromes, whereas the pathologist tends to discard this variety by emphasising the remarkable similarity of the pathology between cases. Although memory impairment precedes aphasia, apraxia, and agnosia in the common presentation of AD, there are unusual cases. In progressive posterior atrophy, visuospatial deficit is the initial symptom. There are also cases with predominant dysexecutive (frontal) syndromes. (Source: Lancet Neurology)

Formal Education, Socioeconomic Status, and the Severity of Aphasia After Stroke

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: These findings suggest that even once learned, access to written word forms may become less vulnerable to disruption by stroke with increasing years of education. (Source: Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation)

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Cognitive Decline and Recurrent Strokes: Don't Miss This DiagnosisCognitive Decline and Recurrent Strokes: Don't Miss This Diagnosis

Medscape Today Headlines — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 16:31:00 +0100

Test your knowledge with this case challenge of a 56-year-old woman with aphasia and multiple past infarcts. Medscape Neurology (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

Electrical stimulation over the left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) determines long-term effects in the recovery of speech apraxia in three chronic aphasics.

Behavioural Brain Research — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100

In this study, we investigated the potential of tDCS for the recovery of apraxia of speech in 3 patients with stroke-induced aphasia. Over 2 weeks, three aphasic subjects participated in a randomized double-blinded experiment involving intensive language training for their articulatory difficulties in two tDCS conditions. Each subject participated in five consecutive daily sessions of anodic tDCS (20min, 1mA) and sham stimulation over the left inferior frontal gyrus (referred to as Broca's area) while they performed a repetition task. By the end of each week, a significant improvement was found in both conditions. However, all three subjects showed greater response accuracy in the anodic than in the sham condition. Moreover, results for transfer of treatment effects, although different acr...

Perfusion-weighted MR imaging in persistent hemiplegic migraine

Neuroradiology — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 05:57:07 +0100

Conclusions PWI should be indicated for patients with migraine attacks accompanied by auras to assess the sequential changes in cerebral perfusion and to better understand its pathogenesis. Content Type Journal ArticlePages 1-6DOI 10.1007/s00234-011-0946-zAuthors Isabelle Mourand, Service de Neuroradiologie, Hôpital Gui de Chauliac, 80 avenue Augustin Fliche, 34295 Montpellier Cedex 5, FranceNicolas Menjot de Champfleur, Service de Neuroradiologie, Hôpital Gui de Chauliac, 80 avenue Augustin Fliche, 34295 Montpellier Cedex 5, FranceClarisse Carra-Dallière, Service de Neuroradiologie, Hôpital Gui de Chauliac, 80 avenue Augustin Fliche, 34295 Montpellier Cedex 5, FranceEmmanuelle Le Bars, Service de Neuroradiologie, Hôpital Gui de Chauliac, 80 avenue Augustin Flic...

Re-examining Paul Broca’s initial presentation of M. Leborgne: Understanding the impetus for brain and language research

Cortex — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100

Abstract: The 150th anniversary affords an opportunity to revisit the circumstances surrounding Paul Broca’s case report celebrated today as the moment of discovery of aphasia. The proceedings from January to June 1861 of the Paris Society of Anthropology are examined to reconstruct the events surrounding the report of M. Leborgne on April 18th. From a close reading of the presentations and discussions which took place during this period it is apparent that Broca’s case report was a minor diversion to a debate about cranial measurements and their relation to intelligence in individuals and racial groups. Moreover, it appears that little attention was granted to Broca’s first case at the time. While his ideas about localization and specialization developed and change over the next dec...