Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) is a neurodegenerative condition that primarily affects a person’s ability to communicate. Unlike aphasia caused by stroke or brain injury, PPA develops gradually and worsens over time, impacting speech, reading, writing, and language comprehension.

In this episode, we clarify common misconceptions surrounding aphasia and dementia, including why aphasia itself is not dementia — but how PPA can be a subtype of Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD). We also discuss why not everyone with aphasia has dementia, and why not everyone with dementia develops aphasia.

Listeners will learn:

1. What Primary Progressive Aphasia is and how it differs from other forms of aphasia
2. How PPA fits under the umbrella of Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD)
3. Early signs of PPA and why diagnosis is often delayed
4. Typical age of onset and how symptoms progress through stages
5. Why early diagnosis and supportive therapies matter
6. The three main variants of PPA:
7. - Nonfluent/Agrammatic Variant
8. - Semantic Variant
9. - Logopenic Variant

This episode also addresses public confusion following high-profile diagnoses and explains the progression from PPA to FTD in some individuals. Understanding PPA helps caregivers and families better navigate communication changes while preserving dignity and connection for as long as possible.

About the Host:

Author Lisa Skinner is a behavioral specialist with expertise in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia. In her 30+year career working with family members and caregivers, Lisa has taught them how to successfully navigate the many challenges that accompany this heartbreaking disease. Lisa is both a Certified Dementia Practitioner and is also a certified dementia care trainer through the Alzheimer’s Association. She also holds a degree in Human Behavior.

Her latest book, “Truth, Lies & Alzheimer’s – Its Secret Faces” continues Lisa’s quest of working with dementia-related illnesses and teaching families and caregivers how to better understand the daunting challenges of brain disease. Her #1 Best-seller book “Not All Who Wander Need Be Lost,” was written at their urging. As someone who has had eight family members diagnosed with dementia, Lisa Skinner has found her calling in helping others through the struggle so they can have a better-quality relationship with their loved ones through education and through her workshops on counter-intuitive solutions and tools to help people effectively manage the symptoms of brain disease. Lisa Skinner has appeared on many national and regional media broadcasts. Lisa helps explain behaviors caused by dementia, encourages those who feel burdened, and gives practical advice for how to respond.

So many people today are heavily impacted by Alzheimer's disease and related dementia. The Alzheimer's Association and the World Health Organization have projected that the number of people who will develop Alzheimer's disease by the year 2050 worldwide will triple if a treatment or cure is not found. Society is not prepared to care for the projected increase of people who will develop this devastating disease. In her 30 years of working with family members and caregivers who suffer from dementia, Lisa has...

Agnosia is a lesser-known but deeply impactful neurological condition that affects how the brain interprets sensory information — even when the senses themselves are functioning normally. In this episode, we explore what agnosia is, how it presents in dementia, and why it can be so distressing for both individuals and caregivers.

Listeners will gain insight into:

1. What agnosia is and how it differs from memory loss
2. Common types of agnosia, including:
3. -Visual agnosia
4. -Auditory agnosia
5. -Tactile agnosia
6. -Prosopagnosia (face blindness)
7. -Anosognosia (lack of awareness of impairment)
8. How dementia-related brain changes affect perception and recognition
9. Real-life examples, such as not recognizing everyday objects or loved ones
10. The emotional and safety challenges agnosia creates

We also discuss practical strategies to support someone living with agnosia, including communication techniques, environmental adaptations, and assistive tools that can reduce confusion and anxiety. Understanding agnosia helps caregivers respond with empathy and patience, recognizing that misidentification and confusion are symptoms — not choices.

This episode offers education, clarity, and compassionate guidance for families navigating perception and recognition changes in dementia.

About the Host:

Author Lisa Skinner is a behavioral specialist with expertise in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia. In her 30+year career working with family members and caregivers, Lisa has taught them how to successfully navigate the many challenges that accompany this heartbreaking disease. Lisa is both a Certified Dementia Practitioner and is also a certified dementia care trainer through the Alzheimer’s Association. She also holds a degree in Human Behavior.

Her latest book, “Truth, Lies & Alzheimer’s – Its Secret Faces” continues Lisa’s quest of working with dementia-related illnesses and teaching families and caregivers how to better understand the daunting challenges of brain disease. Her #1 Best-seller book “Not All Who Wander Need Be Lost,” was written at their urging. As someone who has had eight family members diagnosed with dementia, Lisa Skinner has found her calling in helping others through the struggle so they can have a better-quality relationship with their loved ones through education and through her workshops on counter-intuitive solutions and tools to help people effectively manage the symptoms of brain disease. Lisa Skinner has appeared on many national and regional media broadcasts. Lisa helps explain behaviors caused by dementia, encourages those who feel burdened, and gives practical advice for how to respond.

So many people today are heavily impacted by Alzheimer's disease and related dementia. The Alzheimer's Association and the World Health Organization have projected that the number of people who will develop Alzheimer's disease by the year 2050 worldwide will triple if a treatment or cure is not found. Society is not prepared to care for the projected increase of people who will develop this devastating disease. In her 30 years of working with family members and caregivers who suffer...

In this episode of The Truth Lies & Alzheimer’s, we break down what dementia really is, how it affects the brain, and why understanding the differences between various types of dementia is so important for families, caregivers, and professionals.

Dementia is an umbrella term used to describe a group of progressive neurological conditions that impact memory, thinking, behavior, and daily functioning. While some cognitive changes are part of normal aging, dementia involves much greater loss of brain cells and connections—and symptoms worsen over time.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

1. The difference between normal aging and dementia
2. Four of the most common types of dementia:
3. Alzheimer’s disease
4. Frontotemporal dementia
5. Lewy body dementia
6. Vascular dementia
7. What is happening inside the brain with each condition
8. Common symptoms and how they progress
9. Typical ages of diagnosis
10. Why dementia can be difficult to diagnose
11. Current treatment approaches and limitations

We also take a deeper dive into Alzheimer’s disease, including:

1. How Alzheimer’s develops in the brain
2. The role of amyloid plaques and tau tangles
3. Early signs and stages of the disease
4. Genetic, lifestyle, and environmental risk factors

The episode closes with practical insight into brain health, overstimulation, and regulation—exploring how constant digital input can contribute to burnout, and why slowing down, disconnecting, and engaging in real-world connection supports clearer thinking and emotional balance.

This information was reviewed and updated by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), with the most recent updates noted through June 5, 2025.

Resources

1. National Institutes of Health (NIH)
2. National Institute on Aging (NIA)
3. Alzheimer’s & Dementia Research
4. Elder Law Answers – Dementia Risk Factors & Screenings

About the Host:

Author Lisa Skinner is a behavioral specialist with expertise in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia. In her 30+year career working with family members and caregivers, Lisa has taught them how to successfully navigate the many challenges that accompany this heartbreaking disease. Lisa is both a Certified Dementia Practitioner and is also a certified dementia care trainer through the Alzheimer’s Association. She also holds a degree in Human Behavior.

Her latest book, “Truth, Lies &...