Tag Archives: vision changes

A recent study published in The Lancet takes a closer look at a specific vision issue that previous research suggests has a link to Alzheimer’s disease.

The new meta analysis reviewed previous research studies on posterior cortical atrophy. The rare condition causes damage to an area of the brain that results in visual impairment. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, symptoms can include difficulty in “judging distances, distinguishing between moving objects and stationary objects, inability to perceive more than one object at a time, disorientation, and difficulty maneuvering, identifying, and using tools or common objects.” Other symptoms can include hallucinations, and difficulty in performing tasks like spelling and math problems. In the latter stages, memory can be impacted.

Because of the overlapping symptoms of posterior cortical atrophy and Alzheimer’s, there’s ongoing clinical debate as to whether it should be considered a form of Alzheimer’s disease or a distinct disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.

The new study “found a strong association between posterior cortical atrophy syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease neuropathology” and “emphasize the importance of Alzheimer’s disease biomarker testing
as part of the diagnostic assessment of individuals with posterior cortical atrophy.” Medical News Today reported that among the study findings, “94% of study participants with posterior cortical atrophy also had Alzheimer’s disease pathology.”

It’s important to note that according to the Alzheimer’s Association, misdiagnosis of posterior cortical atrophy is common as most people would first go to their ophthalmologist if concerned about changes in vision. Those who are experiencing vision issues that persist and who are concerned about their risk of Alzheimer’s disease should seek further testing.

While there’s no specific treatment for posterior cortical atrophy, understanding its potential connection to Alzheimer’s could lead to an earlier diagnosis of the latter. Most of the newer Alzheimer’s drugs on the market are designed for those in the early stages of the disease, so diagnosis timing is critical.