Materiały źródłowe

• #1 Posterior cortical atrophy – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/posterior-cortical-atrophy/symptoms-causes/syc-20376560

  Posterior cortical atrophy is a brain and nervous system syndrome that causes brain cells to die over time. It causes problems with eyesight and with processing visual information. […] Common symptoms include trouble reading, judging distances and reaching for objects. People with the syndrome may not be able to recognize objects and familiar faces. They also may have trouble making calculations. Over time this condition may cause a decline in memory and thinking abilities, known as cognitive skills. […] Posterior cortical atrophy symptoms vary among people. Symptoms also can vary over time. They tend to gradually get worse. Common symptoms include having trouble with: Reading, spelling or math. Driving. Getting dressed. Telling the difference between objects that are moving and those that are still. Judging how far away objects are. Using everyday objects or tools. Identifying left from right. […] Other common symptoms include: Anxiety. Confusion. Changes in behavior and personality. […] Memory problems may occur later in the disease.

• #2 Posterior Cortical Atrophy: What It Is, Symptoms & Treatment

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/posterior-cortical-atrophy

  Posterior cortical atrophy affects the part of your brain that manages what you see and perceive. This rare neurogenerative disorder causes vision issues (what you see) and spatial issues (how you know where things are). Healthcare providers cant cure it, but they can recommend medication and supportive services to reduce its symptoms. […] Posterior cortical atrophy is a rare, progressive neurodegenerative disorder. In posterior cortical atrophy, you lose neurons (brain cells) in the part of your brain that manages what you see. Early symptoms include vision issues, like having trouble reading, bumping into things or judging distances. As the disease gets worse, you may develop other symptoms, including memory loss. […] Posterior cortical atrophy symptoms typically start when youre in your 50s and 60s. The condition affects the posterior cerebral cortex, which includes your right and left parietal and occipital lobes.

• #3 Posterior cortical atrophy – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posterior_cortical_atrophy

  Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA), also called Benson’s syndrome, is a rare form of dementia which is considered a visual variant or an atypical variant of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The disease causes atrophy of the posterior part of the cerebral cortex, resulting in the progressive disruption of complex visual processing. PCA usually affects people at an earlier age than typical cases of Alzheimer’s disease, with initial symptoms often experienced in people in their mid-fifties or early sixties. […] The main symptom resulting from posterior cortical atrophy is a decrease in visuospatial and visuoperceptual capabilities, since the area of atrophy involves the occipital lobe responsible for visual processing. The atrophy is progressive; early symptoms include difficulty reading, blurred vision, light sensitivity, issues with depth perception, and trouble navigating through space. Additional symptoms include apraxia, a disorder of movement planning, alexia, an impaired ability to read, and visual agnosia, an object recognition disorder.

• #4 What is Posterior cortical atrophy? | Alzheimer’s Research UK

  https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/dementia-information/types-of-dementia/posterior-cortical-atrophy/

  Posterior cortical atrophy, also known as PCA, is an uncommon type of dementia that usually begins by affecting a person’s vision. […] Alzheimer’s disease usually affects a person’s memory first, but in PCA the first symptoms are often problems with vision and how we understand what we are seeing and where things are. […] People often develop PCA between the ages of 50 and 65, but it can affect older people too. […] PCA is an uncommon form of dementia, and at the moment we can’t be sure how many people around the world are affected by it. […] Of people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease at specialist dementia clinics, around one in 10 may have PCA symptoms.

• #5 Posterior Cortical Atrophy – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf

  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK580553/

  Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) is a rare heterogeneous, progressive neurodegenerative condition that primarily affects the occipital and parietal cortex, leading to visuoperceptual, visuospatial, praxis skills, and literacy impairment. Typically, the age of onset is between 50 to 65 years. Patients with posterior cortical atrophy have a good memory, language, insight, and a greater degree of posterior atrophy on Brain MRI than Alzheimer’s disease controls. The course of posterior cortical atrophy is usually insidious and primarily affects the central visual deficits without peripheral visual deficits. On average, there is a diagnostic delay of around four years. Symptoms are often present for months or years before they present to the neurologists or psychiatrists. Patients can also report anxiety while going down the escalators, especially when going down and difficulty with revolving doors. Patients can present with features of acalculia, agraphia, finger agnosia, and left-right disorientation, which are features of Gerstmann syndrome, or with Balint syndrome characterized by ocular apraxia, optic ataxia, and simultagnosia. Most of the patients present with components of these syndromes (simultanagnosia and acalculia) in the initial course of the disease. Patients with PCA often fail to see the picture as a whole and only see specific features. There is a marked inability to describe a complex picture in its entirety, and this classic finding is referred to as simultanagnosia. These patients have defects in visual attention, thereby causing only 'local capturing and 'partonomic’ errors. The criteria emphasize the relative sparing of all of the following: anterograde memory, speech, and nonvisual language functions, executive functions, personality, and behavior. Patients with posterior cortical atrophy have progressive deterioration of visuospatial and visuoperceptual abilities. The cognitive symptoms invariably and inevitably worsen with patients becoming functionally blind, leading to considerable distress, especially in those who retain insight into the deficits and are aware of the increasing dependency for self-care and day-to-day activities.

• #6 Posterior Cortical Atrophy – Rare Dementia Support Canada

  https://raredementiasupport.ca/rare-or-young-onset-dementia/posterior-cortical-atrophy/

  Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) means back of the brain shrinkage and it refers to the progressive loss of brain cells, particularly in brain regions that process visual and sensory information. PCA is a rare form of dementia which can initially cause difficulties with seeing what and where things are, for example, when driving or reading, with interpreting, locating, or navigating things or places. The symptoms of PCA usually begin before the age of 65 and people are often in their mid-50s or early 60s when they first experience symptoms. […] Although in PCA the primary symptoms affect vision, these problems are due to changes in the brain rather than the eyes, and so an optician or ophthalmologist will not usually get to the root of the problem. In PCA, the problem is that the affected part of the brain is unable to interpret the information sent to it by healthy eyes. People living with PCA often do not have problems with their memory and language abilities in the early stages. Over time, as the disease progresses, there will be an increase in the number or impact of symptoms. This can take several years and will impact vision and/or literacy skills (including spelling, writing and arithmetic), as well as memory and other cognitive abilities.

• #7 Posterior Cortical Atrophy | Memory and Aging Center

  https://memory.ucsf.edu/tl/node/7601

  Early symptoms of posterior cortical atrophy include blurred vision, difficulties reading (particularly following the lines of text while reading) and writing with non-visual aspects of language preserved, problems with depth perception, increased sensitivity to bright light or shiny surfaces, double vision and difficulty seeing clearly in low light conditions. […] As the disorder progresses, other symptoms evolve such as getting lost while driving or walking in familiar places, misrecognition of familiar faces and objects, and rarely visual hallucinations. […] PCA tends to affect people at an earlier age than typical Alzheimers disease, with individuals often being in their mid-fifties or early sixties when they experience the initial symptoms. […] As the disease progresses, word finding, day-to-day memory and general cognitive functions may become affected, and people develop the symptoms of typical Alzheimers disease.

• #8 Understanding PCA – Rare Dementia Support

  https://www.raredementiasupport.org/posterior-cortical-atrophy/understanding-pca/

  Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) is a form of dementia that mainly affects the parts of the brain that process visual and spatial information. […] Common first signs and symptoms include difficulties with seeing what and where things are (for example, when driving or reading). This includes: problems with reading, issues with recognition, difficulty with coordination, issues with judging distances, light sensitivity. […] The symptoms of PCA usually begin before the age of 65 and people are often in their mid-50s or early 60s when they first experience symptoms. However, PCA can also affect older people and it can take a long time for people to receive the correct diagnosis. […] People living with PCA often preserve their memory and language abilities in the early stages, but experience a progressive decline in vision and/or literacy skills (including spelling, writing and arithmetic).

• #9 Azthena logo with the word Azthena

  https://www.news-medical.net/news/20240122/Posterior-cortical-atrophy-predicts-Alzheimers-study-finds.aspx

  Most patients with PCA have normal cognition early on, but by the time of their first diagnostic visit, an average 3.8 years after symptom onset, mild or moderate dementia was apparent with deficits identified in memory, executive function, behavior, and speech and language, according to the researchers’ findings. […] At the time of diagnosis, 61% demonstrated „constructional dyspraxia,” an inability to copy or construct basic diagrams or figures; 49% had „space perception deficit,” difficulties identifying the location of something they saw; and 48% had „simultanagnosia,” an inability to visually perceive more than one object at a time. Additionally, 47% faced new challenges with basic math calculations and 43% with reading. […] The average age of symptom onset of PCA is 59, several years younger than that of typical Alzheimer’s. This is another reason why patients with PCA are less likely to be diagnosed, Chapleau added.

• #10 Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) | Dementia Australia

  https://www.dementia.org.au/about-dementia/posterior-cortical-atrophy-pca

  If you have posterior cortical atrophy, tissue in your brain atrophies (shrinks) as cells are lost. […] PCA can affect your visual processing, spelling, writing and arithmetic. […] People often experience the first symptoms of posterior cortical atrophy in their mid-50s or early 60s. However, it can also affect older people. […] This loss of brain tissue can lead to problems with vision, spelling, writing and arithmetic. […] People often start experiencing PCA symptoms in their 50s or 60s. It can also affect older people. […] The first symptoms may be trouble with literacy, numeracy and movement, like: remembering how to spell words, handwriting or typing, remembering the shape or name of letters or numbers, mental arithmetic, dealing with money and small change, making gestures like waving or giving a thumbs up, using reading glasses, tools and implements, like cutlery or scissors (this is partly related to difficulties with visual perception).

• #11 Posterior cortical atrophy symptoms | Alzheimer’s Research UK

  https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/dementia-information/types-of-dementia/posterior-cortical-atrophy/symptoms/

  Symptoms of PCA can vary from person to person and can change over time. Most people will have problems with their vision first, but some people may have problems with coordination, numbers, and language too. […] People living with PCA have symptoms that can vary from person to person and can change over time. Most people will have problems with their vision first, but some people may have problems with dressing, handwriting, coordination, numbers, and language too. […] In PCA, the damage to brain cells spreads through the brain over time. This means that eventually a person’s memory, speech and problem-solving skills will be affected too. As symptoms progress, people will need more support in their daily life and help to look after themselves. This can take several years, but each person’s progression is different and unique.

• #12 Occupational Therapy for Posterior Cortical Atrophy

  https://occupationaltherapybrisbane.com.au/occupational-therapy-for-posterior-cortical-atrophy/

  In the early stages, individuals living with PCA may experience subtle visual symptoms, which gradually progress to more severe deficits as the disease advances. One of the hallmark symptoms of PCA is visual impairment, including blurred vision, difficulties reading, and problems with depth perception. […] Patients may also exhibit visual crowding and optic ataxia, which impairs their ability to perceive objects in the surrounding environment accurately. […] In addition to visual deficits, cognitive impairments are also common in PCA. Patients may struggle with misrecognition of familiar faces and objects, as well as declining memory and difficulty finding words. These cognitive declines can significantly impact the individual’s ability to perform daily tasks and impact their quality of life.

• #13 Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) | Dementia Australia

  https://www.dementia.org.au/about-dementia/posterior-cortical-atrophy-pca

  The visual problems caused by PCA aren’t a problem with your eyes, but with the way your brain interprets signals from your eyes. […] PCA is a degenerative condition, which means your symptoms will become stronger over time. […] As it progresses, you will likely have more trouble with finding the right words, day-to-day memory and with your thinking skills generally. […] In the later stages, you may develop jerking movements in your limbs and, possibly seizures.

• #14 Posterior cortical atrophy: a dementia that affects the vision — DPUK

  https://www.dementiasplatform.uk/news-and-media/blog/posterior-cortical-atrophy-a-dementia-that-affects-the-vision

  Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) is a type of young-onset dementia affecting vision that is caused not by problems with the eyes, but by damage to the back of the brain. […] The back of the brain is in charge of vision and sensory processing. So, people with PCA have difficulty processing visual information, making tasks that rely on vision, like reading, very difficult. The symptoms each person with PCA experiences will differ depending on the exact pattern of damage to their brain. […] Problems with vision that someone with PCA may experience include distortions, sensitivity to light, seeing unusual colours, and visual hallucinations. Some other symptoms could be difficulty spelling, identifying objects, recognising faces, and understanding numbers. People with PCA may also have trouble moving around in their surroundings due to disorientation, and experience challenges with coordination and manoeuvring.

• #15 BBC Sounds episode highlights visual symptoms of posterior cortical atrophy – Look After Your EyesLook After Your Eyes

  https://lookafteryoureyes.org/news-and-views/bbc-sounds-episode-highlights-visual-symptoms-of-posterior-cortical-atrophy/

  Have you listened to the BBC Sounds series called Dementia: Unexpected Stories of the Mind? Episode 4 in the series features a woman called Susan who has a rare neurodegenerative condition called posterior cortical atrophy (PCA). […] The episode gives a good understanding of what the condition is, what the symptoms are, and what it is like to live with it. Sue describes herself as “a bit wobbly” and explains, when trying to pick up a cup of tea; “It is sometimes difficult to find the handle, I sometimes go round and round and round, and I do it by feel really, because I can’t necessarily see where the handle is.” She initially had a problem judging distances when driving and knew there was something wrong, but it took about two years for her to get a confirmed diagnosis of PCA. […] When someone has PCA, although it seems that though a patient might have a problem with their eyes, the programme’s presenter, Jules Montague, describes it as “not eye sight loss, but brain sight loss.”

• #16 Posterior Cortical Atrophy: What It Is, Symptoms & Treatment

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/posterior-cortical-atrophy

  If you have this condition, youre losing brain cells in your posterior cerebral cortex so that it shrinks (atrophies). When that happens, your brain doesnt make sense of what you see, making it hard for you to: Read text. When you try to read, you keep losing your place on the page because lines of text seem to move around on the page. Words and letters may look jumbled together. Some people describe a sensation or perception that words are sliding off the page as they try to read. Judge distances, like the space between steps on a flight of stairs or between your car tires and the curb. You may feel anxious about using an escalator because you cant figure out when its OK to place your foot on the moving escalator step. Follow directions because you cant tell your right from your left. Recognize faces, objects or places. Avoid bumping into doorways, furniture or other objects because you dont appropriately judge where they are even though they might be right in front of you. Deal with numbers. For example, you know your best friends phone number, but you cant call them because you cant find the numbers on your phone. Use tools and appliances because the on-and-off switches arent located where you see them.

• #17 Posterior Cortical Atrophy (PCA) | Symptoms & Treatments | alz.org

  https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-dementia/types-of-dementia/posterior-cortical-atrophy

  Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) refers to gradual and progressive degeneration of the outer layer of the brain (the cortex) in the part of the brain located in the back of the head (posterior). […] The symptoms of posterior cortical atrophy can vary from one person to the next and can change as the condition progresses. The most common symptoms are consistent with damage to the posterior cortex of the brain, an area responsible for processing visual information. Consistent with this neurological damage are slowly developing difficulties with visual tasks such as reading a line of text, judging distances, distinguishing between moving objects and stationary objects, inability to perceive more than one object at a time, disorientation, and difficulty maneuvering, identifying, and using tools or common objects. Some patients experience hallucinations. Other symptoms can include difficulty performing mathematical calculations or spelling, and many people with posterior cortical atrophy experience anxiety, possibly because they know something is wrong. In the early stages of posterior cortical atrophy, most people do not have markedly reduced memory, but memory can be affected in later stages.

• #18 Clinical and neuroimaging differences between posterior cortical atrophy and typical amnestic Alzheimer’s disease patients at an early disease stage | Scientific Reports

  https://www.nature.com/articles/srep29372

  PCA is clinically characterized by a progressive decline in visual processing, literacy, numeracy and other functions dependent on parietal, occipital and occipitotemporal brain regions. […] PCA patients showed larger right hippocampal volume compared with tAD patients. Moreover, GM volume of bilateral parietal and occipital lobes was smaller in PCA patients and the significant hypometabolism was observed in bilateral parietal and occipital lobes, particularly the right occipitotemporal junction in PCA group. […] During diagnosis, no tAD patients reported visual complaints or severe dressing apraxia, while all the 16 PCA patients had a different range of visuoperceptual and/or visuospatial impairments. […] PCA patients had a much higher frequency of dressing apraxia, construction apraxia, finger agnosia, prosopagnosia and symptoms of Gerstmann syndromes. […] The PCA group showed more impairment on visuospatial tasks but performed better in recognition and recall tests. […] PCA patients show more symptoms related to the visual cortex and exhibit marked impairments in visuospatial-related cognitive function.

• #19 Azthena logo with the word Azthena

  https://www.news-medical.net/news/20240122/Posterior-cortical-atrophy-predicts-Alzheimers-study-finds.aspx

  Most patients with PCA have normal cognition early on, but by the time of their first diagnostic visit, an average 3.8 years after symptom onset, mild or moderate dementia was apparent with deficits identified in memory, executive function, behavior, and speech and language, according to the researchers’ findings. […] At the time of diagnosis, 61% demonstrated „constructional dyspraxia,” an inability to copy or construct basic diagrams or figures; 49% had „space perception deficit,” difficulties identifying the location of something they saw; and 48% had „simultanagnosia,” an inability to visually perceive more than one object at a time. Additionally, 47% faced new challenges with basic math calculations and 43% with reading. […] The average age of symptom onset of PCA is 59, several years younger than that of typical Alzheimer’s. This is another reason why patients with PCA are less likely to be diagnosed, Chapleau added.

• #20 Occupational Therapy for Posterior Cortical Atrophy

  https://occupationaltherapybrisbane.com.au/occupational-therapy-for-posterior-cortical-atrophy/

  As PCA progresses, the symptoms become more pronounced, leading to a decline in functional status. Patients may struggle with executive functions, such as planning and decision-making, and may require assistance with activities of daily living. […] Recognising the early signs and symptoms of PCA is crucial for an early diagnosis and intervention. Occupational therapy, along with other cognitive interventions, can play a vital role in managing the visual and cognitive impairments associated with PCA. By addressing these symptoms, occupational therapists aim to enhance the patient’s quality of life and maintain their independence for as long as possible. […] One of the primary and defining features of posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) is the presence of visual symptoms. Individuals with PCA may experience a range of visual impairments that can significantly impact their daily functioning and overall quality of life.

• #21 Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) | Dementia Australia

  https://www.dementia.org.au/about-dementia/posterior-cortical-atrophy-pca

  You might also develop problems related to the way your brain deals with visual information, like: recognising objects in pictures (particularly if the objects are incomplete or taken from unusual angles), recognising faces, including those of friends, relatives or television characters, understanding where and how far away things are, like reaching out to pick something up but missing it, judging speed or distance, like when walking downstairs or driving, seeing objects as moving when they’re still, missing lines of text when you’re reading, reading particular words, because letters seem to move around, reading larger print, like headlines, objects appearing to have an unusual colour, increased sensitivity to bright light or shiny surfaces, double vision, feeling as though your eyes are jerking around, getting dressed and undressed.

• #22 Posterior cortical atrophy | Health Library | Memorial Health System

  https://www.mhsystem.org/health-library/con-20376550/

  Posterior cortical atrophy is a brain and nervous system syndrome that causes brain cells to die over time. It causes problems with eyesight and with processing visual information. […] Common symptoms include trouble reading, judging distances and reaching for objects. People with the syndrome may not be able to recognize objects and familiar faces. They also may have trouble making calculations. Over time this condition may cause a decline in memory and thinking abilities, known as cognitive skills. […] Posterior cortical atrophy symptoms vary among people. Symptoms also can vary over time. They tend to gradually get worse. Common symptoms include having trouble with: Reading, spelling or math. Driving. Getting dressed. Telling the difference between objects that are moving and those that are still. Judging how far away objects are. Using everyday objects or tools. Identifying left from right.

• #23 Posterior Cortical Atrophy – Rare Dementia Support Canada

  https://raredementiasupport.ca/rare-or-young-onset-dementia/posterior-cortical-atrophy/

  The first symptoms of PCA may include: problems with reading (e.g., difficulty following lines of text, words jumbling up or with certain text formats and sizes), difficulties with coordination and spatial awareness (e.g., picking up objects, dressing, selecting the correct numbers on a telephone), visual problems (including blurred vision, perceiving objects amongst clutter, double vision, difficulty focusing and difficulty perceiving more than one object at the same time), problems with judging distances and speeds (e.g., with moving traffic, walking onto escalators, descending stairs), difficulty recognizing faces (including TV characters, friends, relatives), light sensitivity and unusual colour experiences (e.g., washes of colour when driving at night). […] In the mid-stages, people living with PCA may retain understanding of the purpose of everyday activities, but they may need significant help as their visual impairment progresses. As PCA progresses, vision can become severely impaired. The world may be viewed in a distorted way (e.g., as pieces of a puzzle or as if through a fractured mirror). The person may notice small details but struggle to understand the relationship between objects in a given space. This can lead to: requiring help with most or all everyday tasks (including personal care owing to difficulties with visual and spatial awareness), difficulty performing spatial commands and actions (e.g., turn around, step forward), requiring support or supervision when walking (difficulty in detecting the edges of pavements, paths and steps; a tendency to shuffle, stoop or lean). At this stage, many people with PCA are registered as blind, which means that they need help with most visually-guided activities. Some people may have problems with other senses, including increased sensitivity to pain and temperature (especially in the head, hands and feet), changes in hearing (e.g., becoming more sensitive to certain sounds), sense of imbalance or instability or experiencing little jerky movements.

• #24 Posterior Cortical Atrophy (PCA) – PsychDB

  https://www.psychdb.com/geri/dementia/posterior-cortical-atrophy-pca

  Posterior Cortical Atrophy (PCA) is a rare, visual variant of Alzheimers disease. The disease primarily affects areas in the posterior regions of the brain (parietal, occipital, and occipitotemporal cortex) responsible for complex visual processing, spatial perception, spelling, and calculation. Unlike in typical Alzheimers, memory and insight are usually preserved in the early stages of the disease. […] Individuals with PCA often have simultanagnosia, an inability to perceive multiple visual locations simultaneously or to shift attention from one object to another. This results in a very restricted effective visual field where it is like looking at life through a telescope (or missing the forest for the trees). […] Finger agnosia (inability to tell apart fingers on the hand). The individual cannot tell the difference from their thumb and index, middle, ring, pinky finger. […] Left/right indiscrimination (inability to tell left from right). […] Acalculia (difficulty with calculation) and agraphia (loss of ability to write).

• #25

  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11940-022-00745-0

  Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) is a clinico-radiological syndrome characterised by the progressive loss of higher order visuospatial, visuoperceptual and other posterior cortical functions consistent with occipito-parietal and occipito-temporal atrophy. Core features of PCA include space and object perception deficits, elements of Balint syndrome (simultanagnosia, oculomotor apraxia, optic ataxia), constructional dyspraxia, environmental agnosia, dressing apraxia, alexia, elements of Gerstmann syndrome (acalculia, agraphia, leftright disorientation, finger agnosia), alexia and apraxia, with relative sparing of other cognitive domains. Amongst neurodegenerative disorders, PCA tends to have a young onset presentation (83% with age at onset65 years) with patients affected as young as in their 40s or as old as in their 90s. PCA clinical progression includes early deterioration in space perception, object perception and calculation followed by decline in language, executive and episodic memory functions. At relatively early stages, PCA patients with good insight may be unable to independently read, dress or use a telephone or remote control, leading to feelings of disempowerment and depression. At later stages, most PCA patients become functionally blind carrying significant implications for care needs. Initial visual impairment accompanied by emerging cognitive and motor problems present a high risk for getting lost and falls. Late-stage PCA often resembles advanced typical AD. PCA diagnosis is frequently delayed, and people are likely to receive misdiagnoses of ocular or psychological conditions.

• #26 Posterior Cortical Atrophy – MD Searchlight

  https://mdsearchlight.com/neurology/posterior-cortical-atrophy/

  Posterior cortical atrophy is a medical condition that usually starts causing gradual disruption of the central vision, without affecting the peripheral vision. Often, patients experience symptoms for months or even years before being properly diagnosed, usually with around a four-year gap. […] Patients may display symptoms of a series of medical conditions such as acalculia (difficulty with calculations), agraphia (trouble writing) and left-right disorientation, collectively known as Gerstmann syndrome. They may also exhibit Balint syndrome, characterized by difficulty coordinating eye movements, impaired hand-eye coordination, and inability to perceive the visual field as a whole. Most patients often demonstrate elements of these syndromes in the early stages of the disease. […] People with posterior cortical atrophy experience a gradual decline in abilities like understanding how objects are positioned in space and how they see and perceive things. Essentially, their cognitive skills deteriorate to a point that they become functionally blind. This can cause them a lot of distress, especially if they are aware of these changes and the increasing need for help with self-care and daily activities.

• #27 Posterior Cortical Atrophy: What It Is, Symptoms & Treatment

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/posterior-cortical-atrophy

  Anxiety is another common early symptom of posterior cortical atrophy. Some researchers suspect the condition may affect the brain networks that integrate sensory, emotional and cognitive information. […] Posterior cortical atrophy is a progressive disease, which means early symptoms get worse and you develop new symptoms. Complications include: Vision loss (functional blindness). Depression and anxiety. Increased risk of falling because the condition can affect your balance. Increased risk of accidents around the home. […] You can expect their symptoms to get worse over time and eventually develop symptoms that are very similar to symptoms of advanced Alzheimers disease. […] The life expectancy for someone with posterior cortical atrophy is about the same as it is for someone with Alzheimers disease. Most people with Alzheimers disease live 10 to 12 years after they first have symptoms.

• #28 Orphanet: Posterior cortical atrophy

  https://www.orpha.net/en/disease/detail/54247

  A rare neurologic disease characterized by impairment of higher visual processing skills and other posterior cortical functions without any evidence of ocular abnormalities, relatively intact memory and language in the early stages, and atrophy of posterior brain regions. […] Early PCA symptoms include visuoperceptual and visuospatial dysfunction, apraxia and alexia. […] The disorder typical onset is between 50-65 years of age. […] Earliest reported symptoms include difficulties with complex visual behaviors (e.g. driving, reading, and telling the time from an analogue watch). […] People with PCA tend to have relatively well preserved memory, insight, and judgment early in the disease course, although language problems (word finding problems, phonological errors) often emerge early. […] Individuals with PCA often experience anxiety and depression from early on. […] Prognosis is poor as PCA is progressive disorder. Life expectancy after PCA diagnosis is thought to be similar (8-12 years) to individuals affected with Alzheimer’s disease.

• #29 Posterior cortical atrophy – Wikipedia

  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posterior_cortical_atrophy

  As neurodegeneration spreads, more severe symptoms emerge, including the inability to recognize familiar people and objects, trouble navigating familiar places, and sometimes visual hallucinations. In addition, difficulty may be experienced in making guiding movements towards objects, and a decline in literacy skills including reading, writing, and spelling may develop. Furthermore, if neural death spreads into other anterior cortical regions, symptoms similar to Alzheimer’s disease, such as memory loss, may result. In PCA where there is significant atrophy in one hemisphere of the brain hemispatial neglect may result the inability to see stimuli on one half of the visual field. Anxiety and depression are also common symptoms. […] Over time, however, atrophy in PCA may spread to regions that are commonly damaged in AD, leading to shared AD symptoms such as deficits in memory, language, learning, and cognition. Although PCA has an earlier onset, a diagnosis with Alzheimer’s is often made, suggesting that the degeneration has simply migrated anteriorly to other cortical brain regions.

• #30 Posterior Cortical Atrophy: What It Is, Symptoms & Treatment

  https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/posterior-cortical-atrophy

  Posterior cortical atrophy symptoms develop slowly. If you have this condition, ask your provider what you can expect in the next few months and years. Ask about changes that may be symptoms that your condition is getting worse and would be a reason for you to contact them. […] In posterior cortical atrophy, theres a disconnect in how your brain makes sense of what you see. That disconnect can disrupt your daily life, making it difficult for you to do things like read letters and words, understand numbers or judge distances. Having posterior cortical atrophy may make you feel anxious and afraid about other ways that the disease could change your life, including losing your independence.

• #31 Posterior Cortical Atrophy – Symptoms and causes – Apollo Hospitals

  https://www.apollohospitals.com/diseases-and-conditions/posterior-cortical-atrophy/

  Some patients also experience hallucinations, while other symptoms may include difficulty in spelling or performing mathematical calculations. In addition, many people with posterior cortical atrophy experience anxiety and memory can be affected in later stage. […] The symptoms of posterior cortical atrophy usually progress over a brief period. However, you may also experience a decline in your cognitive abilities, along with visual impairment.

• #32 Posterior Cortical Atrophy | Stellar Care

  https://stellarcaresd.com/posterior-cortical-atrophy/

  The 7 stages of posterior cortical atrophy may Include: Early Symptoms: This stage includes subtle difficulties with visual perception and spatial awareness, such as trouble reading or recognizing familiar objects and faces. Visual and Spatial Problems: In this stage, visual and spatial issues become more pronounced, impacting daily activities like navigation and handwriting. Language and Memory Impairment: As PCA progresses, language difficulties, including word-finding problems and memory impairment, become more evident. Functional Decline: Individuals may start experiencing challenges in daily living activities, including dressing, bathing, and preparing meals. Mobility Issues: Mobility becomes increasingly affected, leading to problems with balance, walking, and coordination. Severe Cognitive Decline: In this stage, there’s a significant decline in cognitive abilities, including memory, problem-solving, and communication. Advanced Dependency: People with PCA may become entirely dependent on others for their care, and the disease can lead to severe disability.

• #33 Posterior cortical atrophy | Radiology Reference Article | Radiopaedia.org

  https://radiopaedia.org/articles/posterior-cortical-atrophy?lang=us

  Posterior cortical atrophy is clinically dominated by disruption of normal higher-order visual processes, and as such patients eventually behave like individuals who are blind. Patients typically present with visual agnosia: early and pronounced feature […] apraxia: early and pronounced feature […] Approximately 25% of patients with posterior cortical atrophy will also develop visual hallucinations. Early in the course of the disease, insight and episodic memory are largely intact. As the disease progresses, however, more generalized cognitive impairment, including memory deficits, develops. The disease is gradually progressive with patients usually succumbing within 8-12 years from the time of symptom onset.

• #34 Posterior Cortical Atrophy (PCA): Symptoms & Treatments

  https://www.alzra.org/blog/posterior-cortical-atrophy-pca-symptoms-treatments/

  Many people with posterior cortical atrophy may also experience the following behavioral symptoms: Hallucinations, Confusion, Anxiety, Personality and behavioral changes. […] People with PCA generally do not exhibit a considerably reduced memory in the early stages of the disease. However, it can affect the memory in later stages. […] No treatments are currently known to slow the progression of posterior cortical atrophy. Since it resembles Alzheimers disease in some people, it is suggested that the medications used for temporary treatment of Alzheimers symptoms may be effective in treating PCA, but it is not proven. Some patients may temporarily treat symptoms such as anxiety or depression, but the overall risks or benefits of such treatments are unidentified.

• #35 Posterior Cortical Atrophy | Memory and Aging Center

  https://memory.ucsf.edu/tl/node/7601

  In the later stages of the disease, people may experience jerking movements of their limbs and even seizures. Some people live approximately the same length of time as individuals with typical Alzheimers disease (on average 1012 years following the onset of symptoms) while others live with the condition for longer.

• #36 Posterior cortical atrophy – Humanitas.net

  https://www.humanitas.net/diseases/posterior-cortical-atrophy/

  As neuro-degeneration spreads, more severe symptoms emerge, including the inability to recognize familiar people objects and places and sometimes visual hallucinations. In addition, patients may experience difficulty making guiding movements towards objects and may experience a decline in literacy skills. Furthermore, if neural death spreads into other anterior cortical regions, symptoms similar to Alzheimers disease, such as memory loss, may result. Apart from that, anxiety and depression are also common in PCA patients. […] As the disease progresses, word finding, day-to-day memory and general cognitive functions may become affected, and people develop the symptoms of typical Alzheimer’s disease. In the later stages of the disease, people may experience jerking movements of their limbs and even seizures.

• #37 Understanding PCA – Rare Dementia Support

  https://www.raredementiasupport.org/posterior-cortical-atrophy/understanding-pca/

  Problems with spelling, numeracy and learned motor skills have also been reported as early indicators of PCA. […] Even once an appropriate referral has been made to a specialist usually a neurologist, psychiatrist or neuro-ophthalmologist it may take some time before the diagnosis is made formally. It can typically take 1 to 3 years from the onset of symptoms. As a result, many people living with PCA feel frustrated by the time of diagnosis.

• #38 Azthena logo with the word Azthena

  https://www.news-medical.net/news/20240122/Posterior-cortical-atrophy-predicts-Alzheimers-study-finds.aspx

  A team of international researchers, led by UC San Francisco, has completed the first large-scale study of posterior cortical atrophy, a baffling constellation of visuospatial symptoms that present as the first symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. These symptoms occur in up to 10% of cases of Alzheimer’s disease. […] Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) overwhelmingly predicts Alzheimer’s, the researchers found. Some 94% of the PCA patients had Alzheimer’s pathology and the remaining 6% had conditions like Lewy body disease and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. […] Unlike memory issues, patients with PCA struggle with judging distances, distinguishing between moving and stationary objects and completing tasks like writing and retrieving a dropped item despite a normal eye exam, said co-first author Marianne Chapleau, Ph.D., of the UCSF Department of Neurology, the Memory and Aging Center and the Weill Institute for Neurosciences.

• #39 Posterior Cortical Atrophy: Overview of Causes and Management

  https://www.medicoverhospitals.in/diseases/posterior-cortical-atrophy/

  Posterior Cortical Atrophy (PCA) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a progressive decline in visual processing and other cognitive functions. […] This disorder leads to a gradual deterioration of visual and spatial abilities, while other cognitive functions may remain relatively intact initially. […] Visual symptoms are often the most prominent and early indicators of PCA. Patients may experience difficulties with reading, recognizing objects, and navigating spaces. […] As PCA progresses, cognitive decline becomes more apparent. Patients may struggle with tasks requiring complex thinking and spatial awareness. […] In addition to visual and cognitive impairments, individuals with PCA might experience difficulty with coordination and movement, sensory perception challenges, and difficulty with daily activities.

• #40 Longitudinal neuroanatomical and cognitive progression of posterior cortical atrophy

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6598737/

  Posterior cortical atrophy is a clinico-radiological syndrome characterized by progressive decline in visual processing and atrophy of posterior brain regions. […] Patients with posterior cortical atrophy showed early occipital and parietal atrophy, with subsequent higher rates of temporal atrophy and ventricular expansion leading to tissue loss of comparable extent later. […] Cognitive models showed tests sensitive to visuospatial dysfunction declined earlier in posterior cortical atrophy than typical Alzheimers disease whilst tests sensitive to working memory impairment declined earlier in typical Alzheimers disease than posterior cortical atrophy. […] These findings indicate that posterior cortical atrophy and typical Alzheimers disease have distinct sites of onset and different profiles of spatial and temporal progression.

• #41 Longitudinal neuroanatomical and cognitive progression of posterior cortical atrophy

  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6598737/

  Overall, findings are consistent with a space of continuous phenotypic variability across the full spectrum of Alzheimers disease, as is increasingly being recognized both clinically and pathologically. […] The different pattern of results observed for visual and verbal episodic memory suggest that the former involve an important component of visual processing and might represent an unreliable measure of episodic memory in PCA. […] Among the most striking differences, performance on measures sensitive to visuospatial processing (such as the A cancellation test) was estimated to decline early in PCA and relatively late in typical Alzheimers disease. […] Conversely, performance on measures of working memory (such as the forward digit span) were estimated to decline early in typical Alzheimers disease and late in PCA.

• #42 Posterior Cortical Atrophy: Overview of Causes and Management

  https://www.medicoverhospitals.in/diseases/posterior-cortical-atrophy/

  PCA is frequently considered an atypical variant of Alzheimers disease due to shared pathological features. However, the symptoms and progression of PCA differ significantly. […] In Alzheimers disease, memory loss is typically the earliest and most noticeable symptom, whereas, in PCA, visual and spatial difficulties are more prominent initially. […] Currently, there is no cure for PCA, and treatment focuses on managing symptoms and improving quality of life. […] Symptoms may include visual disturbances, difficulty with spatial awareness, and memory issues. […] Diagnosis involves clinical evaluation and imaging studies. […] Treatment options focus on managing symptoms and supporting cognitive function.

• #43 Azthena logo with the word Azthena

  https://www.news-medical.net/news/20240122/Posterior-cortical-atrophy-predicts-Alzheimers-study-finds.aspx

  Early identification of PCA may have important implications for Alzheimer’s treatment, said co-first author Renaud La Joie, Ph.D., also of the UCSF Department of Neurology and the Memory and Aging Center. […] Patients with PCA have more tau pathology in the posterior parts of the brain, involved in the processing of visuospatial information, compared to those with other presentations of Alzheimer’s. This might make them better suited to anti-tau therapies. […] Better understanding of PCA is „crucial for advancing both patient care and for understanding the processes that drive Alzheimer’s disease,” said senior author Gil Rabinovici, M.D., director of the UCSF Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. „It’s critical that doctors learn to recognize the syndrome so patients can receive the correct diagnosis, counseling and care.”

• #44

  https://medschool.cuanschutz.edu/pca/what-is-pca/what-is-pca

  Although PCA was named because of the distinctive atrophy of the cortical regions in the back of the brain, atrophy of the posterior regions of the cortex might not be prominent on an MRI at onset. […] Visual field tests and standard cognitive and thinking tests of attention, memory, language, and executive functions are helpful in differentiating PCA from other problems. […] There is currently no disease-modifying treatment, but supportive measures and symptomatic therapies can help. […] In summary, PCA is a syndrome and not a disease. This means that it is a constellation of symptoms that can be caused by different diseases. […] The most common disease to cause PCA is Alzheimers disease (approximately 75%), and some people with Alzheimers disease-causing PCA can also have Lewy Bodies contributing to their PCA syndrome (about 10%). […] In others, PCA is caused only by Lewy Bodies (approximately 5%). The remainder of the 10% is due to corticobasal degeneration, prion disease, or a combination of diseases.

• #45 Occupational Therapy for Posterior Cortical Atrophy

  https://occupationaltherapybrisbane.com.au/occupational-therapy-for-posterior-cortical-atrophy/

  The reduced brain activity in areas responsible for visual processing directly affects visual function in PCA patients. Neuronal loss, neurofibrillary tangles, protein synthesis and amyloid plaques appear to contribute to the disruption in the transmission of electrical signals that helps support visual information, processing and integration. […] Some of the specific visual symptoms commonly reported by PCA patients include visual hallucinations, optic ataxia (defective visual control of manual reaching and grasping), and visual crowding (difficulty perceiving objects in cluttered environments). These symptoms further exacerbate the challenges faced in daily tasks and overall quality of life. […] As PCA progresses, patients may experience difficulties with object recognition, depth perception, reading, and color perception. Our therapists specialize in mitigating these visual symptoms and enhancing cognitive functions through targeted strategies and interventions. […] Through rehabilitation, patients with PCA have learned to recognize and use their preserved abilities, leading to fewer daily errors and improved autonomy, which enhances their quality of life.

• #46 The Progression of Posterior Cortical Atrophy to Corticobasal Syndrome: Lumping or Splitting Neurodegenerative Diseases? | Tremor and Other Hyperkinetic Movements

  https://tremorjournal.org/articles/10.5334/tohm.207

  Posterior cortical atrophy is a clinical syndrome that is characterized by the progressive loss of visuospatial integration and is associated with neurodegenerative conditions. […] The symptoms typically progress over a brief time span, and careful neuropsychological evaluation often reveals signs of cognitive decline that are not only related to visuospatial abilities but also include ideational and ideomotor apraxia, dyscalculia, problems with spelling, and memory deficits. […] The patient exhibited mild progressive worsening of her cognitive deficits with short-term memory involvement. […] In 2012, she slowly developed a complex movement disorder that included left alien hand syndrome, smooth asymmetric (left) rigidity, cortical sensory loss, and spontaneous myoclonic jerks of the left arm. […] CBS was the final diagnosis on the basis of recently established diagnostic criteria.

• #47 Posterior cortical atrophy as a primary clinical phenotype of corticobasal syndrome with a progranulin gene rs5848 TT genotype | Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases | Full Text

  https://ojrd.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13023-016-0396-0

  Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) represents a special clinicoradiologic syndrome characterized by progressive visuospatial and visuoperceptual deficits. […] The dynamics of its progression and clinical outcome are not well known. […] The patients initial symptoms were discovered in early 2009 at the age of 52, as it was noted that he took longer time to return home alone than before. He also began to complain of blurred vision, but it did not affect his daily life. Two years later, he began to suffer from progressive spatial disorientation. He was unable to fetch objects with either arm by visual guidance. His memory also began to decline and sometimes he spoke not fluently. In 2012, he exhibited problems in writing simple words, calculating and discerning fingers. He walked more slowly and sometimes exhibited tremor and myoclonus of his upper limbs, especially his right side. In May 2013, he complained of deterioration and difficulty in tracking specific objects in his visual field. He also had difficulty in riding, dressing himself, and distinguishing coats from pants. He urinated anywhere as he could not find the bathroom, and he even occasionally defecated on himself.

• #48 Occupational Therapy for Posterior Cortical Atrophy

  https://occupationaltherapybrisbane.com.au/occupational-therapy-for-posterior-cortical-atrophy/

  These visual symptoms often include: blurred vision, difficulties with reading, colour perception problems are also common, leading to difficulties distinguishing between shades and hues. Patients may struggle to see objects clearly and may have trouble navigating their surroundings. Challenged with recognizing familiar faces which can greatly impact their daily lives and relationships. Difficulty judging depth and movement, making tasks such as navigating stairs or reaching for objects challenging. Visual crowding and optic ataxia, which affects the ability to accurately perceive objects in the environment, are also common in PCA. […] These visual impairments can make it challenging for individuals with PCA to engage in everyday activities and may require intervention to help manage and improve their visual functioning.

• #49 A Case of Posterior Cortical Atrophy with Complex Set of Symptoms

  https://www.itmedicalteam.pl/articles/a-case-of-posterior-cortical-atrophy-with-complex-set-of-symptoms-and-rapid-course-107520.html

  In PCA neuroimaging generally show characteristic posterior brain atrophy, including occipital, parietal and posterior temporal lobes; the right hemisphere is more commonly affected than the left one. […] CSF analysis shows, in most cases, low level of beta-amyloid and increased level of TAU, confirming a diagnosis of amyloid-based dementia as an atypical AD. […] A recent classification distinguishes two variants of PCA: a pure-PCA, which meets the clinic-radiological criteria for PCA; a PCA-plus, with additional features that direct diagnosis to CBD, LBD or CJD.

• #50 Posterior cortical atrophy: a dementia that affects the vision — DPUK

  https://www.dementiasplatform.uk/news-and-media/blog/posterior-cortical-atrophy-a-dementia-that-affects-the-vision

  Even though Alzheimers disease can be a cause of PCA, memory problems are not a symptom until the later stages of the condition whereas memory loss is one of the first symptoms affecting people with typical Alzheimers disease. […] PCA most commonly occurs at age 50-65, but there is often a long delay in reaching a diagnosis. […] Currently, we do not know why people develop PCA or what risk factors there are for it. There is also no medication that specifically treats PCA, although some people find that drugs designed for Alzheimers disease or Parkinsons help their symptoms.

• #51 Posterior cortical atrophy as a primary clinical phenotype of corticobasal syndrome with a progranulin gene rs5848 TT genotype | Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases | Full Text

  https://ojrd.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13023-016-0396-0

  As the disease progressed, the patient developed further asymmetric extrapyramidal signs and progressive global cognitive impairment, but without vertical ophthalmoplegia or apparent hallucinations. […] This study provides evidence for CBS belonging to the GRN genetic variant (rs5848) clinical spectrum, and demonstrates that in rare cases, CBS may initially present with symptoms of PCA. Longitudinal follow-up is required to ascertain the most likely etiology and determine the clinical-genetic-pathological mechanism of the T allele of the rs5848 polymorphism in CBS diagnosis.

• #52 Posterior cortical atrophy – Diagnosis and treatment – Mayo Clinic

  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/posterior-cortical-atrophy/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20376563

  Because the first symptoms are often visual, posterior cortical atrophy can be misdiagnosed as a vision disorder. […] To diagnose posterior cortical atrophy, a specialist will review your medical history and symptoms. This includes vision problems. […] There are no treatments to cure or slow the progression of posterior cortical atrophy. Some research suggests that medicines used to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease may help manage symptoms of posterior cortical atrophy. However, this hasn’t been proved, and more research is needed. […] Some therapies and medicines can help manage the condition. They may include: Medicines. Your health care provider may give you medicines to treat symptoms such as depression or anxiety. […] Physical, occupational or cognitive therapy. These therapies may help you regain or retain skills that are affected by posterior cortical atrophy.

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