Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania are looking to determine whether a form of non-invasive brain stimulation called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in combination with naming and spelling treatment (NASP) can improve the language abilities of people with primary progressive aphasia (PPA). tDCS uses a mild electrical current, about the same strength as a 9-volt battery, to stimulate regions of the brain from outside the head. This is performed by putting small electrodes inside soft saline-soaked sponge pads and placing them on the scalp to help conduct the electrical signal into the brain. tDCS changes how responsive certain regions of the brain can be (i.e., more or less responsive). NASP is a form of speech therapy that involves identifying nouns and verbs from a picture and then spelling the noun or verb. This study will use tDCS combined with NASP to try to increase how responsive the language areas of the brain can be in order to determine whether this type of stimulation can help enhance the benefits of NASP. Participation is expected to take place over approximately 9 months. The study has two parts: each part is identical except in one part you will receive real stimulation during treatment and in the other sham stimulation, or the placebo.

Our team is studying whether brain stimulation + speech therapy can improve language in people with PPA. The brain stimulation is called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and works by resting sponges with electrodes on the scalp. The speech therapy involves looking at a picture, naming the noun or verb, and then spelling the noun or verb. We hope that the brain stimulation will improve the benefits of the speech therapy. The study takes place over about 9 months. You will receive both real and sham stimulation during the study.

Inclusion: - Aphasia due to logopenic or nonfluent/agrammatic variant primary progressive aphasia - Between the ages of 50 and 90 - Right-handed - Proficient in English - High school education or higher Exclusion: - Other major neurological disease/disorder - Uncorrected hearing loss - Uncorrected visual acuity loss - Major psychiatric disorder

Megan Hoffman

megan.hoffman1@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Primary Progressive Aphasia

Treatment

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation

60 visits over the course of approximately 9 months including two treatment periods which are 15 visits each (every day Monday - Friday for 3 weeks). Some visits may be done remotely.

August 31, 2027

Participants are paid $20 per hour for time spent in study visits. We also reimburse for travel costs up to $50 per day.

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