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Scott Cunningham was diagnosed with posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) in December 2020, after years of trouble with tasks involving vision and spatial processing. His and his wife Anne’s account, published by Being Patient, describes how the symptoms were initially attributed to eyesight problems and the diagnosis was eventually confirmed by brain imaging.
Scott Cunningham was diagnosed with posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) in December 2020, after several years of difficulty with visual and spatial tasks that had not been explained by problems with his eyes. In an interview published by Being Patient, Cunningham and his wife, Anne, described how everyday challenges—from cutting a board straight to reading an analog clock—led them toward a diagnosis of a rare Alzheimer’s-related condition.
PCA affects how the brain processes visual information and spatial relationships. According to Being Patient’s report, people with the condition can have trouble interpreting what they see, judging distances, reading or finding objects, even when their eyesight is relatively normal. The Cunninghams’ account illustrates how these symptoms can be mistaken for an eye problem while the underlying cause remains unrecognized.
Scott, a retired psychiatrist, said the changes began subtly, around six or seven years before the interview. He found that work he had once done easily—such as cutting a board or assembling a log rack—had become difficult. He also described struggling with detailed computer tasks and later finding board games harder to play. His wife noticed concerns that he had not initially recognized as symptoms.
Scott sought eye care and was told he might have cataracts. He underwent cataract surgery in both eyes, but said his vision still did not feel right. He recalled that an ophthalmologist eventually emphasized that his eyeballs appeared normal, helping point away from an eye-level explanation. The report says a brain scan later confirmed the PCA diagnosis; it does not provide the scan findings or a detailed clinical timeline.
When Vision Problems Begin in the Brain
The account highlights a diagnostic challenge: PCA can first affect visual processing, rather than presenting primarily as the memory difficulties many people associate with Alzheimer’s disease. When someone has trouble reading, judging space or recognizing visual arrangements, the cause may not be a problem with the eyes themselves. Scott’s experience shows how symptoms can be confusing for the person affected and may take time to connect to a neurological condition.
Diagnosis can shape decisions about care and everyday support. Anne described practical adjustments that have helped Scott maintain independence and said vision services are often missing from PCA care. The report does not establish how common delayed diagnosis is or evaluate specific services, but it brings attention to the need to consider functional vision and spatial difficulties as part of the care conversation.
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From Subtle Changes to Diagnosis
The Being Patient article is part of its “Journey to Diagnosis” series and is based on an interview with Scott and Anne Cunningham. The outlet said the series was sponsored by Eisai, adding that the sponsor had no role in selecting guests, shaping questions or reviewing the interview before publication.
Scott said he had no known family history of Alzheimer’s and had worked as a psychiatrist for 40 years. In the interview, he described early problems with hands-on tasks and computer details, followed by difficulties with games involving visual patterns and rotated shapes. He and Anne said the path included eye appointments and cataract procedures before a brain scan confirmed PCA in December 2020.
The report also states that Scott learned he carries two copies of the ApoE4 gene and was in the third year of a five-year gene therapy clinical trial at the time described. It says his neurologist advised against anti-amyloid treatment because of his ApoE4 status. These are details about Scott’s individual care and trial participation, not general treatment guidance.
““I found that I couldn’t do some work that normally I could do easily, like cut a board in half.””
— Scott Cunningham, describing early difficulties
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Details the Account Does Not Resolve
The interview does not specify the exact date of the brain scan, the full sequence of specialist referrals or the clinical criteria used to diagnose Scott. It also does not establish how frequently people with PCA are initially treated for eye conditions, or whether his experience reflects the typical diagnostic pathway.
Details about Scott’s gene therapy trial, including its name, design, goals and results, are not supplied in the source material. The report likewise does not explain the clinical reasoning behind his neurologist’s advice about anti-amyloid treatment. His genetic status and treatment decisions should not be taken as a recommendation for other patients; treatment choices depend on individual medical assessment.
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Trial and Care Updates Remain Key
At the time of the Being Patient interview, Scott was in the third year of a planned five-year gene therapy trial. The article does not say when the trial will end, whether results have been reported, or whether his participation or treatment plan has since changed. Any later update would be needed to clarify those points.
For the couple, the account points to continuing practical needs: adapting daily activities and finding services that address vision-related difficulties. The source does not announce a new care program or formal policy change. It leaves readers with a personal account of how symptoms, eye evaluations and a brain scan eventually led to a diagnosis, while broader questions about PCA care remain open.
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Key Questions
What is posterior cortical atrophy?
Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) is a condition that affects the brain’s processing of visual information and spatial relationships. Being Patient describes it as a rare form of Alzheimer’s disease; symptoms can include difficulty reading, locating objects or judging distances, even when eyesight is relatively normal.
What symptoms did Scott Cunningham describe?
Scott described trouble with tasks including cutting a board straight, assembling a log rack, managing detailed computer work and playing visually demanding board games. He also sought help for vision problems that persisted after cataract surgery.
How was Scott’s diagnosis confirmed?
The Being Patient report says a brain scan confirmed Scott’s PCA diagnosis in December 2020. It does not provide the scan results or the full diagnostic process.
Does the account recommend a particular treatment?
No. It describes Scott’s individual care, including his neurologist’s advice about anti-amyloid treatment and his participation in a gene therapy trial. Those details are not treatment advice for others; medical decisions should be discussed with a qualified clinician.
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