Posterior cortical atrophy--a prototypical case of dementia beginning with visual symptoms: case report

Arq Bras Oftalmol. 2013 Oct;76(5):314-6. doi: 10.1590/s0004-27492013000500014.

Abstract

Dementia presenting with prominent higher order visual symptoms may be observed in a range of neurodegenerative conditions and is often challenging to diagnose. We describe a case of progressive dementia presenting with prominent visual cortical symptoms. A 55-year-old, right-handed, woman with early onset of visual impairment not associated with anterior visual pathology, presenting with dyslexia, visual agnosia, Balint's syndrome, and spatial disorientation. Ophthalmologists should consider this condition especially in presenile patients with slowly progressive higher-order visual symptoms. Although described in association with different conditions, it may also occur in Alzheimer disease.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Agnosia / etiology*
  • Alzheimer Disease / etiology
  • Atrophy
  • Dementia / etiology*
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Visual Cortex / pathology*
  • Visual Perception*