[Impaired vision-dependent performance due to posterior cortical atrophy]. / Keski-ikäisen naisen hahmottamisongelmat posteriorisen kortikaalisen atrofian oireina.

By causing problems in vision-dependent perception, posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) results in a significant impairment of functional ability. Most cases of PCA are atypical manifestations of Alzheimer's disease. PCA is a rare disease, and accurate data about its frequency are lacking. Disease symptoms begin typically under the age of 60 years. The prerequisites for a correct diagnosis are awareness and recognition of a special clinical picture and special investigations such as cerebrospinal fluid analysis and investigations of brain metabolism. A typical set of clinical characteristics and findings of special examinations in PCA are described.

[Use of CSF biomarkers in the diagnostics of memory diseases]. / Alzheimerin taudin merkkitekijöiden käyttö muistisairauksien diagnostiikassa.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia. Early diagnosis of diseases leading to dementia is cost-effective. However, early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease may be difficult and should not be based on exclusion of other reasons for dementia. A decreased CSF amyloid beta-peptide-42 level together with elevated tau or phosphorylated tau levels can differentiate patients with AD from control subjects or patients with other neurologic conditions with relatively high accuracy. We evaluated the use of these biomarkers in 452 patient cohort during 2005-2007 in clinical practice. Cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers seem to be useful especially to confirm Alzheimer's disease diagnosis.