Differential Diagnosis for Progressive Aphasia
- Single most likely diagnosis
- Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) with primary progressive aphasia (PPA): This is the most likely diagnosis due to the progressive nature of the aphasia, which is a hallmark symptom of FTD with PPA. FTD is a group of brain disorders caused by cellular degeneration, leading to progressive decline in language, behavior, and/or motor functions.
- Other Likely diagnoses
- Alzheimer's disease: Although Alzheimer's disease is primarily known for its effects on memory, some variants, such as logopenic primary progressive aphasia, can present with progressive aphasia as a primary symptom.
- Vascular dementia: A series of small strokes or changes in the brain's blood supply can lead to cognitive decline, including aphasia, making vascular dementia a possible diagnosis.
- Traumatic brain injury: Depending on the location and severity of the injury, traumatic brain injury can result in aphasia that may progress or improve over time.
- Do Not Miss diagnoses
- Brain tumor: A tumor in the brain, particularly in areas responsible for language, can cause progressive aphasia. Missing this diagnosis could be fatal if the tumor is malignant and left untreated.
- Infections (e.g., abscess, encephalitis): Certain infections can cause focal neurological deficits, including aphasia, and require prompt treatment to prevent serious complications or death.
- Multiple sclerosis: This autoimmune disease can cause a wide range of neurological symptoms, including aphasia, especially if there are lesions in areas critical for language processing.
- Rare diagnoses
- Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: A rare, degenerative, fatal brain disorder that can cause a variety of neurological symptoms, including aphasia, though it typically progresses much more rapidly than other forms of dementia.
- Neurosyphilis: A rare infection of the brain and spinal cord that can cause a range of neurological symptoms, including aphasia, if left untreated.
- Mitochondrial disorders: Certain mitochondrial diseases can affect the brain and cause a variety of symptoms, including progressive aphasia, though these are exceedingly rare and often present with other systemic symptoms.