TL;DR
Turn quiet afternoons into listening time
- Thousands of audiobooks, podcasts and originals
- Listen on your phone, tablet or Echo — also offline
- Cancel anytime
Retired psychiatrist Scott Cunningham was diagnosed with posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) in December 2020, after years of difficulties with tasks involving vision and spatial processing. In an interview with Being Patient, Scott and his wife, Anne, described how symptoms were initially mistaken for eye problems and what remains challenging about diagnosis and care.
Scott Cunningham was diagnosed with posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) in December 2020, after years of trouble with tasks such as reading an analog clock, cutting a board straight and interpreting visual patterns. In an interview published by Being Patient, Cunningham and his wife, Anne, described how symptoms initially led them to seek eye care before an ophthalmologist recognized that his eyeballs appeared healthy and the problem might lie in how his brain processed visual information.
PCA is a rare form of Alzheimer’s disease that often affects visual and spatial processing before memory becomes the main concern. According to Being Patient’s report, people with PCA can struggle to interpret what they see, judge distances, read or find objects even when their eyesight is relatively normal. The article presents the Cunninghams’ experience as one couple’s account, not a clinical guide to diagnosing the condition.
Scott, a retired psychiatrist who practiced for 40 years, said his difficulties developed gradually. He recalled being unable to cut a board straight or assemble a log rack by following instructions. Anne said some of the changes had begun six or seven years before the interview. Scott also described growing difficulty managing detailed computer tasks and playing board games that relied on recognizing and rotating shapes.
Scott first pursued an eye-related explanation. He underwent cataract removal in both eyes, but said his vision still did not feel right. The ophthalmologist later told him his eyeballs were “perfect,” according to his account in the interview. The report says a brain scan ultimately confirmed PCA in December 2020. It also describes him learning the diagnosis through a patient portal before speaking with a doctor, a moment that illustrates the uncertainty and emotional strain the couple experienced.
When Visual Problems Point Beyond the Eyes
The Cunninghams’ account illustrates why PCA can be difficult to identify: early changes may appear in everyday activities rather than as a clear memory problem, and people may first seek help from eye-care professionals. Scott’s experience does not establish how often this happens, but it shows how a mismatch between normal eye examinations and persistent visual-spatial difficulties can prompt further investigation.
The interview also highlights practical consequences. Scott said the problems interfered with hobbies and household tasks he had previously managed, while Anne discussed the need for vision-related services in PCA care. The article does not set out a general treatment plan, but the couple’s story makes clear that a diagnosis can affect independence, family routines and the kinds of support a person may need.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
From Eye Care to a Brain Scan
In its report, Being Patient describes PCA as a condition associated with Alzheimer’s disease in which changes in visual processing can emerge ahead of more familiar memory symptoms. Scott said there was no known family history of Alzheimer’s disease and that, before his own symptoms, he had not expected the diagnosis to apply to him.
The report says Scott carries two copies of the ApoE4 gene and is in the third year of a five-year gene therapy clinical trial. It also says his neurologist advised against anti-amyloid treatment because of his ApoE4 status. These details are reported as part of his individual care history; the source does not provide enough information to generalize that advice to other people or explain the trial’s findings.
Being Patient identified the interview as part of its “Journey to Diagnosis” series and said the series was sponsored by Eisai. The publication stated that the sponsor had no role in selecting guests, shaping questions or reviewing content before publication.
““Your eyes are — your eyeballs are perfect.””
— Scott Cunningham, in the Being Patient interview
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Questions the Interview Leaves Open
The report focuses on the Cunninghams’ personal experience and does not give a complete account of how PCA is assessed, how common it is or how symptoms vary between people. It also does not detail the brain scan findings or the medical reasoning behind Scott’s treatment decisions. His advice about anti-amyloid treatment is specific to his case; the article does not establish what other patients should do.
The interview says Scott was participating in a five-year gene therapy trial, but it does not report the trial’s goals, study results or whether he later completed it. It also does not provide follow-up on his condition or explain what vision services he has received. Those outcomes remain unclear from the published account.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Trial and Support Remain in View
At the time described in the interview, Scott was in the third year of a five-year gene therapy clinical trial. The report does not give a completion date beyond that planned duration or say when results may be available. Any further information about the study would need to come from the researchers or trial organizers.
The Cunninghams also described practical adjustments that have helped Scott maintain independence, though the article’s available account does not list them in detail. Their discussion points to ongoing needs around diagnosis, day-to-day support and vision services for people with PCA. No broader change in clinical guidance or service provision is announced in the report.
adaptive tools for spatial difficulties
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Key Questions
What is posterior cortical atrophy?
Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) is a rare form of Alzheimer’s disease that commonly affects visual and spatial processing. A person may have difficulty interpreting images, reading or judging distances even when the eyes themselves function relatively normally.
What symptoms did Scott Cunningham describe?
Scott described trouble cutting a board straight, assembling a log rack, managing detailed computer tasks and recognizing or rotating shapes during board games. These are details from his personal account, not a checklist for diagnosing PCA.
How was Scott’s PCA diagnosed?
After eye-related care, including cataract removal in both eyes, Scott continued to feel that his vision was not right. Being Patient reports that a brain scan confirmed PCA in December 2020; the article does not provide the scan findings or full diagnostic process.
Does Scott’s treatment advice apply to everyone with PCA?
No. The report says Scott’s neurologist advised against anti-amyloid treatment because of his ApoE4 status, but this is a detail of his individual care. The interview does not offer treatment guidance for other people. Medical decisions should be discussed with a qualified clinician familiar with the individual’s circumstances.
Source: rss
Halloween Picks
halloween
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
