Web Application Use to Support Language and Communication in Primary Progressive Aphasia

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT As the global population ages, the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) is on the rise. This poses significant challenges to healthcare systems worldwide. Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) is a clinical ADRD dementia syndrome characterized by progressive decline in comprehension and expressive language skills. While the primary approach for addressing language and communication impairments in PPA involves non-pharmacological intervention administered by a speech-language pathologist, access to care can be difficult due to a limited number of clinicians and lack of evidence-based interventions. While technology- supported interventions have the potential to improve access to care, promote social participation, ameliorate communication skills, and improve emotional well-being, there has been no systematic exploration of how individuals with PPA and related dementias use web applications. This study will address this gap by conducting a comprehensive analysis of an existing web application used in the Communication Bridge-2 randomized controlled trial (RCT), to provide insights into the usage, feasibility, and usability of such technologies in supporting communication for individuals with PPA and related dementias. Aim 1 will establish practical use guidelines for the existing web application. We will analyze retrospective app user data and post- study interview transcripts from Communication Bridge-2, an NIH stage 2 RCT of speech-language therapy for PPA. We will categorize user groups (frequent vs. nonfrequent users) and determine which clinical and demographic factors (e.g., sex, age, aphasia severity) correlate with greater app engagement. This will allow us to determine which groups are using the app vs. which are not and may require additional engagement strategies. For Aim 2, we will identify evidence-based steps to optimize the existing app for a broader audience of PPA and related dementias. Through semi-structured interviews with individuals with PPA and their communication partners, we will identify implementation barriers to technology-supported intervention and propose necessary changes to improve user engagement. This will allow us to evaluate what app features users like, to identify app limitations, and to propose modifications to the app to improve user experience in this population. This project will occur within the Healthy Aging & Alzheimer's Research Care Center at the University of Chicago, where I will work with data from the only large-scale RCT for language and communication in PPA, as well as individuals with PPA referred from around the world. Findings have the potential to optimize technology use to maximize communication skills, quality of life, and overall care for those within the ADRD spectrum.