There are two possibilities for this type of symptom (and it is possible that they could be co-occurring). First, Vertillicium Wilt is a fungal disease that clogs the vascular system (the water-transporting tissue in the plant) which results in wilting and gradual dieback. Maples are one of the types of plants that are susceptible to this disease.

https://extension.umd.edu/resource/verticillium-wilt-disease-trees-and-shrubs

https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/verticillium_wilt_refresher

Another possibility is girdling roots. Check around the base of the tree to see if there are any roots that appear to be circling around the base of the trunk, rather than outward. Girdling roots can occur if a tree was incorrectly planted. Over time as the tree grows, these roots essentially strangle and cut off the flow of sap in the tree, leading to decline. https://extension.umd.edu/resource/girdling-roots

As a next step, we recommend consulting with a certified arborist who can safely prune out the symptomatic branches of your tree. Any of the larger arborist companies can also test for Verticillium Wilt in a laboratory, to confirm whether the pathogen is present or not. An arborist also can help with remediation of girdling roots (to some extent; generally that is best done when a tree is younger).

You can find a certified arborist near you using this online directory: https://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist/arboristsearch

Christa