Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation improves language and language network functional connectivity in a patient with logopenic Primary Progressive Aphasia

Abstract Background Primary progressive aphasia (PPA) refers to a group of neurodegenerative disorders characterized by early language impairments. Neuroimaging evidence suggests that language networks anchored in prefrontal, temporal and parietal cortices are selectively affected in these syndromes. Focal neuromodulation techniques, such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), are able to change resting‐state functional connectivity in a network‐specific manner. Method Here, we characterized the language network of a patient with logopenic PPA and targeted this network in an individualized manner with high frequency (20Hz) rTMS and with sham rTMS. We used detailed language testing and resting‐state functional connectivity MRI as outcome measures. Result The patient’s language performance improved following active but not sham rTMS. This was accompanied by increased functional connectivity in the patient’s individually characterized language network after active but not sham rTMS. Conclusion This case report supports further controlled clinical trials of individually‐targeted rTMS in PPA.