Shock treatments give hope to people left speechless due to mystery brain disorder

Researchers are making inroads in how to diagnose and treat a rare, mysterious brain disorder that robs patients of their words. Current diagnostics commonly mistake it for Alzheimer’s or age-related dementia, though it affects speech and not memory.

Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) is a neurological syndrome that begins gradually, often before age 65, and worsens over time, according to the Mayo Clinic. Patients will have trouble expressing thoughts, as well as a understanding or finding words. In time they lose their ability to speak and write and, eventually, to understand written or spoken language. Read more.