Multidimensional Evaluation in Primary Progressive Aphasia: Cognitive, Language, Swallowing, Quality of Life, Independence Status, and Depression

ABSTRACT Given the heterogeneity of primary progressive aphasia (PPA), this study aims to illustrate its varying clinical presentations by examining the disease course and specific symptoms of an individual patient, alongside the results of a comprehensive multidimensional assessment. A 61‐year‐old case with PPA, a rare nervous system syndrome affecting communication ability, underwent a multidimensional evaluation including cognitive screening, detailed language, semantic association, swallowing, quality of life, independence status, and depression level. The Language Assessment Test for Aphasia, Quick Aphasia Battery, Pyramids and Palm Trees Test, mini‐mental state examination test, Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination III, Eating Assessment Tool, Swallow Quality of Life Questionnaire, Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability Test, Nottingham health profile, short‐form 36 questionnaire, Geriatric Depression Scale, functional independence measure, and Lowton instrumental activities of daily living scale were used. In this article, the results of the evaluations and the necessary interventions for this case are discussed. This study may be useful for neurologists and neuropsychologists to better understand the clinical course of PPA, speech and language therapists to improve multidimensional assessment findings and recommendations for therapy, and healthcare professionals dealing with geriatric and neurodegenerative diseases. With this study, readers can find an example of how multidimensional assessment methods are applied to a patient with the nonfluent/agrammatic subtype of PPA.