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Progressive nonfluent aphasia and subsequent aphasic dementia associated with atypical progressive supranuclear palsy pathology
Boeve B, Dickson D, Duffy J, Bartleson J, Trenerry M, Petersen R.. European neurology, 2003-01-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
We describe a right-handed man who developed progressive nonfluent aphasia and apraxia of speech beginning at age 71. By age 74 he had behavioral changes, aphasic dementia, as well as mild parkinsonism; extraocular movements were normal except for mild limitation of upgaze. Serial neuropsychometric testing and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scans showed progressive changes reflecting left>right cerebral hemisphere dysfunction. Neuropathologic examination revealed findings characteristic of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) except that the cortical pathology was more widespread than is typical of PSP. We conclude that the clinical manifestations in this case were more similar to the syndrome of progressive nonfluent aphasia with subsequent aphasic dementia and mild parkinsonism, rather than those of PSP. Hence, PSP can present clinically as an atypical dementing syndrome dominated by progressive aphasia/apraxia of speech.
Key findings
- Neuropathologic examination revealed findings characteristic of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) except that the cortical pathology was more widespread than is typical of PSP.
- We conclude that the clinical manifestations in this case were more similar to the syndrome of progressive nonfluent aphasia with subsequent aphasic dementia and mild parkinsonism, rather than those of PSP.
Why it matters
This case report describes a man with progressive nonfluent aphasia and subsequent aphasic dementia who was found at autopsy to have atypical progressive supranuclear palsy pathology. It concerns diagnosis and pathology of a single case, not treating, curing, or preventing Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 40/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (European neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | European Neurology: journal h-index 119 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2003 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (pubmed indexes it as a clinical or observational study) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 4 / 7 | Cited 83 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 3.3 citations a year over 25 year(s) since 2003 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 2.9× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 4 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 7 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Romina Petersen: h-index 10 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Mayo Clinic: institution h-index 1,606 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 12584413) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 40 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Boeve, B., Dickson, D., Duffy, J., Bartleson, J., Trenerry, M., & Petersen, R. (2003). Progressive nonfluent aphasia and subsequent aphasic dementia associated with atypical progressive supranuclear palsy pathology. European neurology. https://doi.org/10.1159/000068502
Vancouver
Boeve B, Dickson D, Duffy J, Bartleson J, Trenerry M, Petersen R. Progressive nonfluent aphasia and subsequent aphasic dementia associated with atypical progressive supranuclear palsy pathology. European neurology. 2003. doi:10.1159/000068502. PMID: 12584413.
BibTeX
@article{boeve2003-12584413,
author = {Boeve, B. and Dickson, D. and Duffy, J. and Bartleson, J. and Trenerry, M. and Petersen, R.},
title = {{Progressive nonfluent aphasia and subsequent aphasic dementia associated with atypical progressive supranuclear palsy pathology}},
journal = {European neurology},
year = {2003},
doi = {10.1159/000068502},
pmid = {12584413},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1159/000068502}
}
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