title: Posterior cortical atrophy: an atypical variant of Alzheimer disease.
abstract: Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) is a neurodegenerative syndrome characterized by striking progressive visual impairment and a pattern of atrophy mainly involving posterior cortices. PCA is the most frequent atypical presentation of Alzheimer disease. The purpose of this article is to provide a summary of PCA's neuropsychiatric manifestations. Emotional and psychotic symptoms are discussed in the context of signal characteristic features of the PCA syndrome (the early onset, focal loss of visual perception, focal posterior brain atrophy) and the underlying cause of the disease. The authors' experience with psychotherapeutic intervention and PCA support groups is shared in detail.
authors.affiliation: Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK. Electronic address: aida.gonzalez@ucl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Aida
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Suárez-González
authors.affiliation: Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK.
authors.forename: Susie M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Henley
authors.affiliation: Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK.
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Walton
authors.affiliation: Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, University College London, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK.
authors.forename: Sebastian J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Crutch
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D001284:Atrophy; D001526:Behavioral Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology
keywords: Apathy; Depression; Neuropsychiatry manifestations (NPM); PCA; Peer support; Posterior atrophy; Visual impairment; Young-onset dementia