Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) may augment standard language therapy to help slow the progression of primary progressive aphasia (PPA), a neurodegenerative disorder that erodes communication.

In a randomized sham-controlled clinical trial, 6 months of active intermittent theta-burst TMS

plus language therapy improved or mitigated decline in regional brain metabolism, trained language abilities, functional impairment, and neuropsychiatric symptoms in adults with PPA.

The study was published online on August 11 in JAMA Network Open .

Added Value?

PPA is a heterogeneous clinical syndrome marked by progressive speech and/or language impairment. Most cases stem from frontotemporal degeneration or Alzheimer’s disease. There are currently no effective drug treatments, although s

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