A recent study highlights that approximately 10 percent of Alzheimer's patients exhibit posterior cortical atrophy (PCA), a condition that significantly impairs visuospatial skills.

The average onset age for PCA is 59, which is notably younger than the typical onset of Alzheimer's symptoms, complicating early diagnosis and contributing to underdiagnosis.

Senior author Gil Rabinovici emphasizes the critical need for healthcare providers to recognize PCA for accurate diagnosis and care, noting that 60 percent of PCA patients are women.

The study found that 61 percent of PCA patients struggle with replicating basic diagrams, while 49 percent have difficulty identifying locations, and 48 percent cannot perceive multiple objects simultaneously.

While common dementia signs include memory loss and behavioral changes, PCA presents unique visuospatial symptoms even in patients with normal eyesight.

PCA can lead to challenges in tasks such as driving, writing, and distinguishing between moving and stationary objects, despite normal vision tests.

Conducted by UC San Francisco, the study analyzed data from over 1,000 patients across 16 countries, establishing PCA as a strong predictor of Alzheimer's disease.

Notably, 94 percent of PCA patients exhibited signs of Alzheimer's pathology, contrasting with only 70 percent of general memory loss cases linked to Alzheimer's.

The authors of the study advocate for increased awareness and better diagnostic resources for PCA to reduce misdiagnoses, especially since many patients first consult optometrists.

The research underscores the importance of understanding why Alzheimer's targets visual areas of the brain, highlighting the need for future studies in this area.

The Alzheimer's Society warns that as dementia progresses, driving abilities typically decline, often requiring patients to cease driving in the middle stages of the disease.

With almost one million people in the UK currently living with dementia, this number is expected to rise in the coming years, emphasizing the urgency of addressing conditions like PCA.