In 2018, my wife was diagnosed with a rare form of Alzheimer’s known as Posterior Cortical Atrophy (PCA). Unlike more commonly recognised forms of Alzheimer’s, PCA begins by attacking the brain’s ability to interpret visual and spatial information. Over time, it robs a person of the ability to see clearly, judge distance, read, or even recognise familiar environments. It’s a cruel and disorienting condition, and watching it unfold in someone you love is devastating.
But amidst the heartbreak, something quite extraordinary happened.
Sometime around 2022–2023, several years into her diagnosis, my wife—who had never shown an interest in drawing, let alone art—began creating abstract pastel works. There was no prompting, no formal structure—just her, sitting quietly, making marks on paper with colours she felt drawn to.
Given the nature of PCA, this emergence of visual creativity was astonishing. Logic would suggest her brain should have been pulling away from imagery, from patterns and form. Yet here she was, expressing something we couldn’t name but could undeniably feel.
She didn’t consider the drawings anything special. Often, she would toss them aside or say they were “just scribbles.” But I saw something else. I began quietly saving the ones she was about to throw away. I had them framed, and they now hang in our home. When people see them, they often pause—sometimes moved, sometimes puzzled. They’re not traditional. They’re instinctive, emotive, and layered with something raw and beautiful.
What captivates me most is this: at a time when language was slipping away, when comprehension and connection were growing harder, she still found a way to speak.
I don’t know if she was aware of what she was expressing, or if it simply felt good to move the pastels across paper. But those drawings are now a part of her legacy. A record of something deeper than diagnosis—a quiet rebellion of creativity in the face of cognitive decline.
If nothing else, they remind me that even when the mind is changing, the soul can still find ways to shine through.
This article came into my email box today - some amazing observations -
https://doi.org/10.4172/NEUROPSYCHIATRY.1000170
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If you or someone you love is facing a dementia diagnosis, you’re not alone. At Guardian Support Services, we support families navigating these complex journeys with compassion, tools, and connection. Learn more at www.guardiansupportservices.co.nz.