Posterior Cortical Atrophy (PCA)
Posterior Cortical Atrophy, which is sometimes called the visual variant of Alzheimer's disease, is a rare degenerative disorder of the brain in which nerve cells in the back part of the brain slowly die. As this of the part of the brain is important for vision, PCA causes a breakdown in a number of visual functions. Many patients first believe that something is wrong with their eyes and may undergo several examinations at the opticians or eye specialist before the correct diagnosis is made. Early signs of the disease include difficulties with reading, driving, getting dressed or being able to spot items in cluttered surroundings. In contrast to typical Alzheimer's disease, people with early stage posterior cortical atrophy rarely complain about memory or reasoning problems and have good insight into their difficulties.
Posterior Cortical Atrophy cannot be diagnosed with one single test. The diagnosis usually requires a physical examination, including checking the nervous system, as well as blood tests, a brain scan and cognitive testing. Early diagnosis is important to avoid, for instance driving accidents.
Although there is no cure for Posterior Cortical Atrophy, since it may be an unusual form of Alzheimer's disease it is possible that the drugs currently available for Alzheimer's disease may be helpful in some cases. This is something that would need to be discussed with the patient's doctor. Non-medication approaches, such as physical and occupational therapy, can also potentially improve daily functioning and quality of life.