# An uncommon variant of Alzheimer’s disease: Posterior cortical atrophy

## TL;DR

This case report describes a rare form of Alzheimer’s disease called posterior cortical atrophy, which presented with visual symptoms in a 54-year-old woman from South Africa.

## Contribution

The paper presents the first reported case of posterior cortical atrophy in South Africa.

## Key findings

- The patient exhibited visual disturbances as the primary symptom, with no ophthalmic abnormalities.
- Posterior cortical atrophy was diagnosed after ruling out other causes of dementia.
- This case highlights the need for a broad differential diagnosis in atypical cognitive impairment presentations.

## Abstract

This case report highlights one of the less common variants of major neurocognitive disorder because of Alzheimer’s disease, posterior cortical atrophy. There is a paucity of data about this condition in sub-Saharan Africa.

A 54-year-old female presented to the geriatric clinic following a 2-year history of poor memory and inability to fulfil her work obligations. The most prominent symptom was visual disturbance, with a normal ophthalmic examination.

Workup done to reveal reversible causes of dementia did not yield any positive results. After a full history, physical and cognitive examination and radiological investigations, a diagnosis of posterior cortical atrophy variant of major neurocognitive disorder because of Alzheimer’s disease as the most likely aetiology was established.

Posterior cortical atrophy is a rare variant of Alzheimer’s disease, and no case reports from South Africa are available in the literature.

This case reminds us that unusual presentations of cognitive impairment require a broad differential diagnosis.