The Japanese journal of neuropsychology

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ArticleTitle	Alexia and agraphia associated with neurodegenerative disease
Language	J
AuthorList	Ritsuo Hashimoto¹⁾ and Noriyo Komori²⁾
Affiliation	¹⁾Department of Neurology, International University of Health and Welfare Hospital ²⁾Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, International University of Health and Welfare
Publication	Japanese Journal of Neuropsychology: 32 (4), 333-346, 2016
Received
Accepted
Abstract	Alexia and agraphia associated with neurodegenerative disease can be classified into two types. One is aphasic, which is accompanied with primary progressive aphasia, and another is non-aphasic, namely, pure alexia or solitary agraphia. This means that not only the language areas but also other areas including posterior inferior temporal/occipital area, angular gyrus, superior parietal lobule and premotor area are involved in reading and/or writing. It is clinically important to evaluate reading and writing abilities in patients with neurodegenerative disease. The reasons are as follows. (i) Alexia or agraphia can be an initial symptom of neurodegenerative disease. (ii) Time course of alexia and agraphia in patients with neurodegenerative disease can shed light on the disease progression processes. (iii) Communication disability in patients with neurodegenerative disease is relentlessly progressive as a rule. Thus, an analysis of retained reading and writing abilities in those patients is crucial to consider the most effective way to maintain communication with them. In this paper, we presented two patients: one with semantic dementia and another with ALS. We administered them our institutional tests evaluating their reading and writing abilities. We then discussed the nature of their alexia and agraphia.
Keywords	primary progressive aphasia, semantic dementia, ALS, alexia, agraphia