Posterior cortical atrophy
Dementia information
Posterior cortical atrophy, also known as PCA, is an uncommon type of dementia that usually begins by affecting a person’s vision.
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What is posterior cortical atrophy (PCA)?
Posterior cortical atrophy is an uncommon type of dementia that usually begins by affecting a person’s vision.
It is also known as Benson’s syndrome, ‘visual variant’ or ‘visual-spatial’ Alzheimer’s disease.
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What causes posterior cortical atrophy?
PCA is caused by damage that builds up in the brain cells at the back of the brain. This is the part of our brain that processes information from our eyes, and allows us to make sense of what we are seeing and where things are.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of the brain cell damage in PCA. Sometimes, it is caused by other types of dementia, such as vascular dementia or dementia with Lewy bodies.
Early symptoms of posterior cortical atrophy
Alzheimer’s usually affects a person’s memory first, but in PCA the first symptoms are often problems with vision and spatial awareness.
Changes in someone’s ability to drive can be one of the first noticeable symptoms. It can also often cause difficulties with reading and locating or recognising objects.
At the moment we can’t be sure how many people in the UK are affected by PCA. Around one in ten people diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease at specialist dementia clinics might have symptoms of PCA.
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Find out more about the symptoms and causes of posterior cortical atrophy, and the treatments currently available.
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This information was updated in April 2025 and is due to be reviewed in April 2027. It was written by Alzheimer’s Research UK’s Information Services team with input from lay and expert reviewers. Please get in touch if you’d like a version with references or in a different format.
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