Support
Dementia information
A diagnosis of PPA will affect people in different ways and can come as a shock. People and their families may need time to come to terms with a diagnosis. With the right information and support, people can carry on with their day to day lives for some time. Some people find that talking to others in the same situation can help.
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What support is available for people affected by PPA?
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Rare Dementia Support national PPA Support Group
The Rare Dementia Support national PPA Support Group holds several meetings a year in London, helping people living with PPA to meet and talk to others.
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Young Dementia Network
The Young Dementia Network is a support group for people under 65 with any form of dementia, and their families.
Their website has a range of resources, including information about local services. They also have a Facebook group.
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Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline
The Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline offers practical and emotional support to anyone affected by dementia, including advice on managing symptoms.
Call 0800 888 6678 or email.
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Alzheimer’s Society
The Alzheimer’s Society provides information and help for people with all forms of dementia and can tell you about local support groups in your area.
Call 0333 150 3456.
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PSP Association
The PSP Association website has some helpful resources and an online forum.
PSP (Progressive Supranuclear Palsy) is a type of dementia, with some similarities to Parkinson’s disease, but some of the symptoms are also similar to non-fluent PPA, including speech and swallowing problems.
Supporting someone with PPA
For people with any type of PPA, their speech and language is affected first.
When talking to someone with PPA, there are things you can do to help them:
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Find a quiet place to talk.
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Ask one question at a time.
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Acknowledge their frustration when they show it. Don't dismiss it.
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Ask the person how you can help them communicate.
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Speak clearly and so that the person can see you speaking.
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Check that you have understood what they mean.
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One-to-one conversations can work better than talking in groups.
If someone is finding eating and swallowing hard, ask your GP for a referral to a speech and language therapist to assess their swallowing.
This is really important, as there may be things they can suggest to reduce the risk of food and drinks going down the wrong way.
If someone is finding eating and swallowing hard, these may help:
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Try not to have foods that require a lot of chewing, like thick pieces of meat.
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Cut food up into small, manageable pieces.
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Add sauces to meals.
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If eating becomes slower, a plate-warmer will help to keep food warm and nicer to eat.
Over time, someone with PPA will need more help with day-to-day life, for example with washing and dressing.
It is important to think about safety at home and any changes you may need to make.
For people still working, PPA may make doing a job more difficult.
It is helpful to talk to close family early on, about options such as lasting power of attorney, and home care and care homes.
Downloads
Dementia information
Read more about treatments for dementia, including information on treating depression, anxiety and agitation and for information on antipsychotics.
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PDF, 1.16 MB, 13 pages
Find out more
You can find out more about current diagnosis and treatments for each type of dementia on the following pages:
Order health information
Alzheimer's Research UK has a wide range of information about dementia. Order booklets or download them from our online form.
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This information was updated in April 2025 and is due to be reviewed in April 2027. It was written by Alzheimer’s Research UK’s Information Services team with input from lay and expert reviewers. Please get in touch if you’d like a version with references or in a different format.
This information is produced with support from The Perfume Shop who had no input into the content.
