Logopenic progressive aphasia with neologisms: a case report

• Main Authors: Hiroyuki Watanabe, Manabu Ikeda, Etsuro Mori
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2019-11-01
• Series: BMC Neurology
• Subjects: Neurodegenerative disease; Primary progressive aphasia; Phonemic paraphasia; Verbal paraphasia; Neologism
• Online Access: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12883-019-1524-y

Abstract Background Neologisms are commonly encountered in patients with acute cerebrovascular diseases, particularly in those with Wernicke’s aphasia. However, few studies have investigated primary progressive aphasia with neologisms in neurodegenerative disease. Case presentation We describe the case of a 74-year-old, right-handed man who developed logopenic progressive aphasia (LPA) with neologisms. He was assessed with neuropsychological tests, magnetic resonance imaging, and single-photon emission computed tomography. Neologisms accounted for a relatively large portion of the paraphasic errors in the naming tests performed during the neuropsychological assessment. He had all the diagnostic features of LPA. Notably, the unique feature of this patient was the presentation of neologisms, which are seldom observed in typical LPA. Conclusions Neologisms are considered rare symptoms in patients with early-stage LPA. Our findings in this case report provide new insights into the spectrum of clinical features in LPA.