NPR recently aired an inspirational story on Sir Terry Pratchett, a best-selling British author who was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease in 2007.
Pratchett has a rare, peculiar form of the disease known as Posterior Cortical Atrophy, or PCA. As the name suggests, PCA damages the posterior cortex of the brain—the area responsible for processing visual information. Those affected by PCA generally have difficulties with visual tasks, such as judging distances, distinguishing between moving objects and stationary objects, or perceiving more than one object at a time.
For Pratchett, his most troubling symptom has been that he can longer read. He said, “When you read, I’m sure you don’t realize that your eyes are going backwards and forwards and to this place and that. Mine don’t do that.”
Pratchett is a highly prolific author, publishing an average of two books a year. Because writing is his passion, it is all the more tragic that PCA robbed him of the ability to read.
Yet, Pratchett has found a way to overcome this obstacle and continue writing. For the past several years, he has been using automatic dictation software, which allows him to dictate the words he wants to write to his computer. Most recently, he has been using the software Talking Point. The technology has allowed him to continue pursuing his creative passion.
In fact, this week, he will publish a reedited version of his first novel, The Carpet People, a book geared toward children that chronicles the adventures of microscopic human beings living in the fibers of carpets.
Currently, Pratchett’s memory is still fairly sharp, as PCA does not typically cause marked memory impairments in the early stages. He plans to continue writing for as long as he can—likely, his commitment to writing regularly has helped slow the progression of Alzheimer’s. His story is a testament to the power of technology to help people with Alzheimer’s stay mentally active and creative, as well as an inspiration to finding ways to overcome the challenges the disease poses.