Tanav Popli, MD

2023 Clinical Research Training Scholarship in FTD

Title/Institution: Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Michigan

Project Title: “Personalized HD-tDCS in Primary Progressive Aphasia”

Primary progressive aphasia (PPA), a form of frontotemporal degeneration (FTD), causes the gradual loss of language skills as people age.

Because PPA usually occurs earlier in life than other forms of aphasia, other cognitive abilities like memory and thinking often remain unaffected during the early stages of the disease. For this reason, early diagnosis and treatment is critical to reduce disability and improve quality of life—yet there are currently no proven treatments or cures for PPA.

Dr. Popli’s project will use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to test whether a form of neuromodulation called high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) is an effective therapy to restore and preserve language skills in people with early PPA. Such therapies could lead to significant improvements in quality of life and help people with PPA and other aphasias maintain their independence for longer.