[Progressive aphasia without dementia--the onset of an atrophic process of the brain].

Three cases of progressive aphasia were analyzed. Moderate motor aphasia without any cognitive disturbances was observed at an early stage of the disease. Subsequently gradual development of severe motor aphasia, agraphia, alexia, as well as of speech comprehension disorder, intellectual retardation, aspontaneity, and apraxia was observed in such patients. Computer tomography revealed brain fronto-temporal local atrophy which was growing progressively as far as the disease developed. Any cerebrovascular diseases were absent. The conclusion was made that progressive isolated aphasia was the debut of cerebral cortex atrophy.