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Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is a type of dementia characterized by a progressive language impairment. Three main variants of the syndrome have been identified, all of which share significant difficulties in naming, a symptom that is already present at the onset of the disease. Yet Catalan lacks specific tools for diagnosing PPA. Typically, more general cognitive tests designed for other types of dementia are used, which overlook the characteristic linguistic deficits in PPA until very advanced stages, delaying diagnosis. Several studies indicate that early and personalized speech-language intervention can improve the quality of life of patients. Hence, specific assessment tools are crucial for diagnosing PPA in the early stages and monitoring its progression.

In this preliminary study, we administered the Catalan version of the Comprehensive Aphasia Test to four Catalan-speaking individuals who had been diagnosed with PPA by neurologists. This test battery is the only standardized test that evaluates language in a comprehensive way. The goal was to examine the test’s sensitivity to linguistic deficits in PPA to determine its clinical utility.


Figure 2. Speech therapist Helena Muntané Sánchez (www.logopedabarcelona.com) administers the test to Lu Vives, founder of Hola Qué Tal Afasia (www.holaquetalafasia.com), who previously participated in another similar study on post-stroke aphasia.

The participants obtained results below the cut-off in several tasks, although with different degrees of severity. In fact, the test detected participants’ core linguistic impairments, such as anomia, and revealed distinct severity profiles consistent with PPA variant types. Moreover, it captured deficits that were not identified by routine clinical observation or informal assessment. Hence, the results suggest that the test can be a useful tool to assess and diagnose linguistic deficits in Catalan-speaking individuals with PPA. This study also provides the first detailed characterization of PPA in Catalan-speaking individuals, as well as in bilingual speakers. The work also includes a qualitative analysis of responses and provides several examples illustrating the characteristic deficits of the syndrome (Figure 1).  

Although preliminary, the present study addresses a critical gap in primary progressive aphasia research, especially in a minoritized language such as Catalan. Having comprehensive assessment tools in the patient’s language is crucial for ensuring a reliable diagnosis in the early stages and for providing appropriate and effective treatment, so that patients receive comprehensive and personalized care.