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Multiple Choice

The semantic variant of primary progressive aphasia is characterized by which pattern?

Semantic variant PPA arises from degeneration of semantic memory, typically in the left anterior temporal lobe. It causes fluent, grammatically normal speech, but with a severe loss of word meaning and naming ability, and difficulties in understanding single words and identifying objects. This combination—speech that is fluent yet comprehension of word meanings is impaired—best captures the pattern described. In contrast, nonfluent/agrammatic PPA shows effortful, halting speech with grammatical errors; a memory-predominant pattern would have prominent episodic memory loss with relatively preserved language; visual agnosia with intact language points to a different, non-language-dominant syndrome.

Semantic variant PPA arises from degeneration of semantic memory, typically in the left anterior temporal lobe. It causes fluent, grammatically normal speech, but with a severe loss of word meaning and naming ability, and difficulties in understanding single words and identifying objects. This combination—speech that is fluent yet comprehension of word meanings is impaired—best captures the pattern described. In contrast, nonfluent/agrammatic PPA shows effortful, halting speech with grammatical errors; a memory-predominant pattern would have prominent episodic memory loss with relatively preserved language; visual agnosia with intact language points to a different, non-language-dominant syndrome.