Diagnosis
Posterior cortical atrophy
In this section:
Getting the right diagnosis is important. It allows people to get the right help and support.
Because posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) is rare, it can take some time to get the correct diagnosis. So, seeking help for symptoms as early as possible is recommended.
If you have concerns about your health, you are entitled to an accurate diagnosis.
Go to section:
How is PCA diagnosed?
At first, people with PCA might think they have something wrong with their eyes and visit their optician.
The optician may find that they have perfectly healthy eyes, or people could wrongly be given glasses that do not help them.
This is because PCA damages the brain, not the eyes directly.
Below, you can hear from Steve, who is living with posterior cortical atrophy, about his diagnosis.
No two people experience dementia the same. If you are worried about any of the symptoms mentioned on this page, talk to your doctor.
These tests include:
-
Questions about your symptoms and medical history.
-
Speaking to your partner or someone close to you about the problems you are having.
-
A physical check-up.
-
A blood test to look for any other conditions that could be causing the symptoms.
If your doctor suspects PCA or another form of dementia, they may send you to a specialist clinic for further tests.
These may include:
-
Tests to work out how your brain processes information from your eyes.
-
Memory and thinking skills tests.
-
Brain scans to look for damage or shrinkage. This may be an MRI or CT scan.
-
A lumbar puncture that involves taking a sample of fluid from the bottom of your spine.
This test can help to identify abnormal levels of proteins linked to diseases like Alzheimer’s in the brain.
-
An EEG test, where sticky patches that measure electrical activity in the brain are placed on the head.
This looks at how your brain cells communicate, is painless and takes about 20 minutes.
We were relieved when we got a diagnosis. It meant that we could understand what was going on and were able to get support from different organisations. Having a diagnosis made it easier for us to start preparing for the future.
- Samantha, whose husband lives with PCA
Below you can hear about from Graeme about his wife Trina's diagnosis of posterior cortical atrophy. He shares their experience and advice to other people worried about vision, memory and thinking.
No two people experience dementia the same. If you are worried about any of the symptoms mentioned on this page, talk to your doctor.
Downloads
Dementia information
Find out more about the symptoms and causes of posterior cortical atrophy, and the treatments currently available.
-
PDF, 1,317 KB, 13 pages
Order health information
Alzheimer's Research UK has a wide range of information about dementia. Order booklets or download them from our online form.
Complete the survey
Was this information helpful?
Let us know what you think by filling out this short survey.
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.
This information is produced with support from The Perfume Shop who had no input into the content.
