As a caregiver of my husband, a victim of a similar, though rarer disease, finding this site is the first time I can feel that I am not alone. All Alzheimer manifestations are found in Primary Progressive Aphasia, and all this site's contributors have expressed every emotion I have experienced. Reading their days' activities I hear my own being described, and my h eart goes out to all of you. It's not just that misery loves company,(and perhaps it might, sadly!) but the burden of not being able to share some of one's sorrows is so lonely. Those who love us both want to hear that we are happy and coping, and those that don't can't really care. Thank you all for sharing.
welcome to our joint world..best place to be when in need of a vent, advice,caring folk. This has saved many of us from going bonkers. I only wish I had found it two years ago (before it was here!)
I looked PPA up under the Mayo Clinic. This was their definition:
Primary progressive aphasia is a rare neurological syndrome that impairs language capabilities. People with primary progressive aphasia may have trouble naming objects or may misuse word endings, verb tenses, conjunctions and pronouns.
Symptoms of primary progressive aphasia begin gradually, usually before the age of 65, and tend to worsen over time. People with primary progressive aphasia can become mute and may eventually lose the ability to understand written or spoken language.
Primary progressive aphasia is a type of frontotemporal dementia, a cluster of related disorders that all originate in the frontal or temporal lobes of the brain.
My husband has aphasia with his AD. He can speak five words, and occasionally will parrot what you say, but not often. Most of what he says doesn't make sense, He's in Stage 6 of AD.
Welcome Cookie. its good to learn from newbies about other possible forms of this dread dementia disorders. i think sometimes my DH has a form of FTD as well after reading what works, doesnt and similarities in his functioning. it doesnt mean much at thispoint in stage 6 the reality is all the same and the end is final. i hope you feel at home like the rest of us here and looking forward to your posts, divvi