Prodromal posterior cortical atrophy: clinical, neuropsychological, and radiological correlation

Neurocase. 2015 Feb;21(1):44-55. doi: 10.1080/13554794.2013.860176. Epub 2013 Dec 5.

Abstract

We present longitudinal clinical, cognitive, and neuroimaging data from a 63-year-old woman who enrolled in research as a normal control and evolved posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) over 5 year follow-up. At baseline she reported only subtle difficulty driving and performed normally on cognitive tests, but already demonstrated atrophy in left visual association cortex. With follow-up she developed insidiously progressive visuospatial and visuoperceptual deficits, correlating with progressive atrophy in bilateral visual areas. Amyloid PET was positive. This case tracks the evolution of PCA from the prodromal stage, and illustrates challenges to early diagnosis as well as the utility of imaging biomarkers.

Keywords: PET; VBM; atypical Alzheimer's disease; neuropsychology; posterior cortical atrophy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / diagnosis*
  • Alzheimer Disease / diagnostic imaging
  • Atrophy / complications
  • Atrophy / diagnosis
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain / pathology*
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Perceptual Disorders / diagnosis
  • Perceptual Disorders / etiology
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Prodromal Symptoms*