Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Alzheimer's Disease: Overview01:26

Alzheimer's Disease: Overview

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a continually advancing neurodegenerative disorder, distinguished by escalating memory loss, cognitive dysfunction, and dementia. The disease unfolds in three stages: preclinical, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia. Its onset is insidious, and the progression gradual, with the cause not well explained by other disorders.
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ and tau...
Alzheimer Disease ll: Pathophysiology01:23

Alzheimer Disease ll: Pathophysiology

Alzheimer disease involves structural changes in the brain that begin long before symptoms appear. The most distinctive features are extracellular neuritic plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles.Neuritic plaques form in the cerebral cortex and around blood vessels. These plaques contain a dense core of beta-amyloid (Aβ)—a toxic protein fragment that clumps outside neurons. The core is surrounded by damaged neuronal extensions, as well as reactive astrocytes and microglia. Abnormal...
Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction01:29

Alzheimer Disease l: Introduction

Alzheimer disease is a chronic, progressive, and irreversible neurodegenerative disorder and the most common cause of dementia in older adults. It leads to gradual neuronal loss, causing cognitive decline, behavioral changes, and loss of functional independence.Risk Factors and EtiologyThe disease is multifactorial. Age is the strongest risk factor, with prevalence doubling every 5 years after age 65. Genetic factors include mutations in genes such as APP, PSEN1, and PSEN2, which are associated...
Parkinson Disease ll: Pathophysiology01:24

Parkinson Disease ll: Pathophysiology

Parkinson disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder primarily affecting movement, with additional non-motor features. Its pathophysiology involves complex interactions among genetic susceptibility, environmental exposures, and cellular dysfunction, including dopaminergic neuron loss, protein aggregation, and mitochondrial impairment.Selective NeurodegenerationA key feature is the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, leading to reduced...
Cushing Syndrome II: Pathophysiology01:19

Cushing Syndrome II: Pathophysiology

Cortisol production is normally governed by the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, which maintains hormonal balance through tightly regulated feedback mechanisms. Disruption of this regulatory system is central to the development of Cushing syndrome, whether the excess cortisol originates from external medications or internal pathology. Persistent cortisol elevation alters metabolism, immune function, and endocrine signaling, producing the characteristic clinical features of the...
Glaucoma: Overview01:25

Glaucoma: Overview

Glaucoma is an eye condition characterized by increased intraocular pressure that damages the retina and optic nerve, leading to irreversible blindness if left untreated. The human eye has various components, including the cornea, iris, pupil, lens, and optic nerve. Aqueous humor is secreted by the epithelium of the ciliary body in the posterior chamber and flows through the trabecular meshwork and canal of Schlemm, maintaining normal intraocular pressure. The trabecular meshwork and the canal...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

A World Appears: A Journey into Consciousness: Pollan M. 2026. New York: Penguin Press. 280 pages. List price: $23.09.

Cognitive and behavioral neurology : official journal of the Society for Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology·2026
Same author

Mysteries of the Social Brain: Understanding Human Behavior Through Science: Miller BL, Sturm V. New York: Routledge. 2024. 146 pages. List price $28.99.

Cognitive and behavioral neurology : official journal of the Society for Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology·2026
Same author

Independent contributions of language activations in left and right temporal cortex to aphasia outcomes after stroke.

Imaging neuroscience (Cambridge, Mass.)·2026
Same author

Mysteries of the Social Brain: Understanding Human Behavior Through Science: Miller BL, Sturm V. New York: Routledge. 2024. 146 pages. List price $28.99.

Cognitive and behavioral neurology : official journal of the Society for Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology·2026
Same author

The Secret of Secrets: Dan Brown. New York: Doubleday. 2025. 671 pages. List price: $38.00.

Cognitive and behavioral neurology : official journal of the Society for Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology·2026
Same author

The Secret of Secrets: Dan Brown. New York: Doubleday. 2025. 671 pages. List price: $38.00.

Cognitive and behavioral neurology : official journal of the Society for Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 19, 2026

Optical Coherence Tomography: Imaging Mouse Retinal Ganglion Cells In Vivo
08:17

Optical Coherence Tomography: Imaging Mouse Retinal Ganglion Cells In Vivo

Published on: September 22, 2017

Posterior cortical atrophy: a brief review.

Howard S Kirshner1, Patrick J M Lavin

  • 1Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 2311 Pierce Avenue, Nashville, TN 37232-3375, USA. howard.kirshner@vanderbilt.edu

Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports
|November 1, 2006
PubMed
Summary

Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) is a dementia syndrome starting with visual problems. It progresses to affect spatial awareness, reading, and writing, eventually causing generalized dementia.

More Related Videos

Abbiategrasso Brain Bank Protocol for Collecting, Processing and Characterizing Aging Brains
12:28

Abbiategrasso Brain Bank Protocol for Collecting, Processing and Characterizing Aging Brains

Published on: June 3, 2020

In Vivo Dynamics of Retinal Microglial Activation During Neurodegeneration: Confocal Ophthalmoscopic Imaging and Cell Morphometry in Mouse Glaucoma
12:48

In Vivo Dynamics of Retinal Microglial Activation During Neurodegeneration: Confocal Ophthalmoscopic Imaging and Cell Morphometry in Mouse Glaucoma

Published on: May 11, 2015

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 19, 2026

Optical Coherence Tomography: Imaging Mouse Retinal Ganglion Cells In Vivo
08:17

Optical Coherence Tomography: Imaging Mouse Retinal Ganglion Cells In Vivo

Published on: September 22, 2017

Abbiategrasso Brain Bank Protocol for Collecting, Processing and Characterizing Aging Brains
12:28

Abbiategrasso Brain Bank Protocol for Collecting, Processing and Characterizing Aging Brains

Published on: June 3, 2020

In Vivo Dynamics of Retinal Microglial Activation During Neurodegeneration: Confocal Ophthalmoscopic Imaging and Cell Morphometry in Mouse Glaucoma
12:48

In Vivo Dynamics of Retinal Microglial Activation During Neurodegeneration: Confocal Ophthalmoscopic Imaging and Cell Morphometry in Mouse Glaucoma

Published on: May 11, 2015

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Neurology
  • Ophthalmology

Background:

  • Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) is a rare clinical syndrome characterized by dementia onset with prominent visual disturbances.
  • Initial symptoms may mimic elementary vision loss, but evolve to complex visual processing deficits.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe the clinical manifestations and associated neuropathologic disorders of posterior cortical atrophy.
  • To highlight the progression from visual symptoms to broader cognitive and neurological deficits.

Main Methods:

  • Clinical case series review.
  • Analysis of presenting symptoms and progression of cognitive decline.
  • Correlation with neuropathologic findings in associated disorders.

Main Results:

  • PCA presents with visual agnosia, topographical disorientation, optic ataxia, and simultanagnosia.
  • Associated syndromes include Balint's and Gerstmann's syndromes, alexia, acalculia, and agraphia.
  • Neuropathologic heterogeneity is observed, with occasional links to Parkinson's disease or Lewy body dementia.

Conclusions:

  • Posterior cortical atrophy represents a distinct dementia syndrome with a unique visual onset.
  • The syndrome encompasses a spectrum of visual-spatial and cognitive deficits.
  • Diverse neuropathologic conditions can underlie the clinical presentation of PCA.