Director's Welcome

In 2012, Michael Franck, who was a beloved patient of mine, approached me to suggest that people with PCA and their families get together as a group to share stories and learn from each other. Mr. Franck had been living with PCA for a couple of years and he was always answering my call to speak to people who were newly diagnosed. I relied on and trusted Mike because he had a special way of letting people know that although the diagnosis of PCA meant difficult times ahead, there are ways to continue to find joy in living. From his suggestion, the Colorado PCA Support Group was formed and evolved to provide support and education related to the latest discoveries in the field of research related to PCA. While we have not been able to meet in person since early 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we continue to meet through teleconferencing, and we are able to provide recordings of educational sessions on our web pages. As a community, we have grown. Awareness of the signs and symptoms of PCA has been cultivated through several means and this growth in awareness will lead to better outcomes for people living with PCA and their families and care partners. As part of the University of Colorado Alzheimer’s and Cognition Center (CUACC), we strive to improve the lives of people living with PCA and with neurodegenerative disorders that result in cognitive and perceptual dysfunction. PCA research at CUACC is an important part of CUACC activities and will continue to be fueled by insights provided by the community and those living with PCA and their families. Our vision for the Colorado PCA Support is to be a beacon of hope and refuge for all persons affected by Posterior Cortical Atrophy and this vision starts here, on our website, where we provide important information and resources for you. Please explore the pages to learn more about PCA and our mission. Thank you for visiting and we look forward to meeting you and hearing from you.

Victoria S. Pelak, MD
Director, Colorado PCA Support
Professor of Neurology and Ophthalmology
University of Colorado School of Medicine