PCA - A Form of Dementia That Affects the Vision

We have listed the definition, signs and treatment for a form of dementia that comes with visual problems.

Mr. Wilson, a 59 years old grocery store owner is suffering from dementia. Apart from thwarting his cognitive ability, dementia has affected the way he sees or perceives the world. He can’t see car keys lying in front of him. He mistakes a shadow on the carpet for a hole. Mr. Wilson sometime even sees things that don’t exist in realty. He often sees faces in cluttered pattern.

Mr. Wilson is not alone as there are many dementia patients having their sight plagued with such issues. This condition is termed as posterior cortical atrophy or PCA. With this condition a dementia patient experience problems with their sight which cause them to misinterpret what they see. In some cases the patient can even experience hallucinations.

PCA was first mentioned by neurologist Arnold Pick in 1902. Despite being described a century ago, the disease is still a mystery and medical experts don’t know much about it. This is because PCA is not common and is present in nearly one of every 20 patients suffering with dementia.

Why and How Dementia Affect Vision

Dementia is a set of symptoms that affect mental cognitive functions like memory and reasoning. Some of the common signs of dementia are loss of memory, loss of reasoning and judgment, physical decline and even death.

Then how it can affect sight?

PCA affects occipital lobes that help us understand what we see.

Seeing is a complicated process going through many stages including the one through your brain. Information is transmitted from your eyes to your brain where it is then interpreted, alongside information from your other senses, thought and memories.

This is why you become aware of what you have seen or perceive. If your brain is already affected by dementia, it may be unable to interpret the information from your sight properly. It leads to illusions, misperceptions, and misidentifications in a person. With this condition, you might first approach your eye doctor, but eye tests or changing lenses won't fix the underlying brain problem.

How to Help Your Loved Ones With PCA

Apart from seeking medical assistance, you should lend your help, support and reassurance to aid people living with dementia. This will not only help them manage the condition, but also it creates a safe environment for them.  

Be Careful Towards their Eye Care and Visual Health:

• Take them to regular eye checks and tell the optometrist about their dementia.
• Make sure to keep their glasses clean
• In case of cataracts, talk to an optometrist about treatment.

  

Modifying the Home:

A sight problem can cause several problems for them even at home. For example, they can bump into things or have difficulty reaching things. You will need to make some arrangements in your home:

• Remove clutter
• Apply labels to drawers
• Replace throw rugs with non-skid floor coverings
• Put stickers on glass doors and large windows so that they can see them easily.
• Adequate lighting should be in all rooms with being particular to reducing glare. 

Use Some Practical Tips:

 

• Ask friends and relative to reintroduce themselves, if they fail to recognize them.
• Try to make activities accessible for them. For example, if they enjoy reading, consider reciting a book to them or using audio books. 
• Explain the uses of objects. Ignore any mistakes and try to help them to understand the object while using it.

This is some essential information about the form of dementia that affects vision, known as PCA. Make sure your loved one understands that this might be something that could effect them and to seek medical help if they are concerned.