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Retired psychiatrist Scott Cunningham was diagnosed with posterior cortical atrophy (PCA), an uncommon Alzheimer’s presentation that can affect visual and spatial processing, in December 2020. His wife, Anne, described how years of practical difficulties and unsuccessful eye-focused care eventually led to further investigation; their account also highlights challenges around diagnosis and daily support.
Retired psychiatrist Scott Cunningham was diagnosed with posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) in December 2020 after years of difficulties with tasks involving vision and spatial processing, according to an interview with Scott and his wife, Anne, published by Being Patient. Their account describes how symptoms that first seemed like problems with his eyes eventually led to a brain scan and diagnosis.
PCA is a rare form of Alzheimer’s disease that often affects how a person interprets visual information before memory problems become prominent. Being Patient says people with PCA may struggle to judge distances, understand spatial relationships, read, or find objects, even when their eyesight is relatively normal. The source does not provide prevalence figures or explain how commonly PCA presents this way.
Scott said his difficulties emerged gradually. About six or seven years before the interview, he found that he could no longer cut a board straight or assemble a log rack using instructions. He also recalled increasing trouble with computer-based financial tasks and board games that depended on recognizing shapes and their positions. Anne said those changes raised concerns for her, while Scott initially found them difficult to interpret.
Scott sought eye care and underwent cataract removal in both eyes, but said his vision still did not feel right. He recalled that an ophthalmologist eventually told him his eyeballs appeared normal, prompting consideration of a problem beyond the eyes. The interview says a brain scan later confirmed the PCA diagnosis. Scott also said he carries two copies of the ApoE4 gene and is in the third year of a five-year gene therapy clinical trial. These details are reported in the interview and do not establish the trial’s outcome.
When Visual Changes Point Beyond the Eyes
The Cunninghams’ account illustrates how PCA symptoms can be mistaken for ordinary vision problems because the earliest difficulties may involve interpreting what the eyes see, rather than a clear abnormality in the eyes themselves. In Scott’s case, he described cataract procedures that did not resolve the difficulties, followed by an eye specialist’s observation that his eyeballs appeared normal. That observation helped redirect attention toward a neurological cause.
The experience also shows why changes in everyday abilities can matter. Trouble with tools, written instructions, finances, or games may be hard for a person and family to explain, particularly when memory loss is not the most visible early problem. The interview is an individual account, not evidence that the same sequence or symptoms will occur for everyone with PCA.
Anne also raised the need for vision-related services in PCA care, while the couple described practical adaptations that have helped Scott maintain independence. Their experience points to questions about how people with PCA can receive support suited to visual and spatial challenges, not only care focused on memory.
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From Eye Appointments to Brain Imaging
Scott had worked as a psychiatrist for 40 years. He told Being Patient that he had no known family history of Alzheimer’s and did not initially connect his practical difficulties with the disease. His account traces symptoms over several years, from trouble with home projects and computer tasks to increasing difficulty taking part in family board games.
Being Patient describes its “Journey to Diagnosis” interview series as sponsored by Eisai and says the sponsor had no role in selecting guests, shaping questions, or reviewing the interview before publication. The story also reports that Scott’s neurologist advised against anti-amyloid treatment because of his ApoE4 status. The supplied material does not include the doctor’s detailed reasoning or provide information that would support generalizing that decision to other patients.
“I found that I couldn’t do some work that normally I could do easily, like cut a board in half. It came out wackadoodle.”
— Scott Cunningham, describing an early home project
Questions Beyond the Diagnosis
The supplied interview excerpt does not give the exact date of publication, the full clinical process leading to the scan, or the specific adaptations the couple uses to support Scott’s independence. It also does not report the gene therapy trial’s results or whether Scott experienced any changes while participating.
The source says Scott’s neurologist advised against anti-amyloid treatment because of his ApoE4 status, but it does not detail the medical rationale, identify a particular medication, or say whether the advice reflects a broader treatment rule. The couple’s experience cannot establish how treatment decisions should be made for other people. The excerpt also does not include follow-up on Scott’s condition since the interview.
Trial Participation and Ongoing Support
Scott was reported to be in the third year of a five-year gene therapy clinical trial at the time described by Being Patient. The source gives no scheduled milestone or results, so the timing and outcome of further trial updates are not clear.
For the couple, the account leaves practical support as an ongoing concern: Anne said vision services can be missing from PCA care, and they described adapting daily life to help Scott remain independent. The interview does not specify what services will become available or whether his treatment plan may change.
Key Questions
What is posterior cortical atrophy?
Posterior cortical atrophy is a rare form of Alzheimer’s disease that often affects visual and spatial processing. People may have difficulty interpreting what they see even when their eyesight itself is relatively normal.
What symptoms did Scott Cunningham describe?
Scott recalled trouble cutting a board straight, assembling a log rack from instructions, handling detailed computer-based financial tasks, and playing a board game involving shapes and spatial orientation. His experience is one person’s account, not a checklist for diagnosis.
Why did Scott’s eye appointments not explain the problem?
Scott said cataract removal improved his vision only somewhat, and an ophthalmologist later told him his eyeballs appeared normal. According to the interview, a brain scan eventually confirmed PCA. The account does not provide the full details of his clinical evaluation.
What treatment is Scott receiving?
Being Patient reported that Scott was in the third year of a five-year gene therapy clinical trial and that his neurologist advised against anti-amyloid treatment because of his ApoE4 status. The interview does not provide trial results or a general treatment recommendation. Medical decisions should be discussed with a qualified clinician.
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