Patient With the Posterior Variant of Alzheimer Disease Plays Table Tennis

We report the case of a 59-year-old man who was referred to our memory clinic for visual impairment. Neurocognitive examination found Balint syndrome (optic ataxia, ocular apraxia) and a left hemi-neglect. Neuropsychological tests found visuoconstructive apraxia, agraphia, and simultanagnosia. Brain MRI and fludeoxyglucose-PET found posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) with associated hypometabolism (Figure, A and B). CSF biomarkers and amyloid-PET (Figure, C) were in favor of Alzheimer disease. Despite patient's severe visual impairment (Figure, D), he could still play ping-pong (Video 1).

Automated summary

This case report describes a 59-year-old male patient who was referred to a memory clinic due to visual impairment. The patient was found to have Balint syndrome and left hemi-neglect during neurocognitive examination, as well as other symptoms such as visuoconstructive apraxia. MRI and PET scans confirmed the presence of posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) and suggested Alzheimer's disease.