[Clinical characteristics of posterior cortical atrophy]

Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) is a degenerative disease characterized by posterior cortical dysfunction, e. g. Bálint syndrome and Gerstmann syndrome; however insight and memory are preserved. The most common neuropsychological symptoms seen in these patients are full blown Bálint syndrome or some components of the syndrome. These patients behave differently from patients with stroke or traumatic injury. Patients with PCA manifesting as severe Bálint syndrome, are almost blind except that they can walk without colliding with obstacles; in contrast patients with stroke or traumatic injury manifesting as Bálint syndrome collide with obstacles. Although a number of studies have reported pathological backgrounds other than Alzheimer disease (AD) in patients with PCA. AD is the most common pathological background observed in such patients. The neuropsychological, morphological, and pathological profiles of patients with PCA differ from those of patients with typical AD. Recently, neuropsychological and pathological studies have reported cognitive diversity in patients with AD; PCA is a variant form of AD. Although the classification of PCAs into different categories might have little value with regard to pharmaceutical therapy, such information is important with regard to the care and support of patients with PCA.