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Prosopagnosia is aneurological conditionthat makes it difficult to recognize people’s faces.
It’s also known as face blindness or facial agnosia.
Agnosias are conditions that affect the way your brain processes sensory information.
Carles Navarro Parcerisas / Getty Images
Some reports estimate that about 2.4% of the global population live with this condition.
Symptoms of Prosopagnosia
Prosopagnosia is characterized by one primary symptom: the inability to recognize faces.
However, people with this condition experience this to varying degrees.
They also experience it in different ways.
This is typically done after a detailed account of your medical and family history has been taken.
What is known is that the condition isn’t linked to memory loss or vision impairments.
Some research has linked the condition’s development to abnormalities or brain damage.
This can be resulting from traumatic brain injury, stroke, or neurodegenerative diseases.
Prosopagnosia can also occur when there is no brain damage or impairment.
Congenital prosopagnosia is a form of the condition that can be passed down in families.
In such a case, the disorder will be present from birth.
Prosopagnosia has also been linked to developmental conditions such asAsperger’s syndromeandautism.
Some people with these conditions could experience face blindness to a certain degree.
Types of Prosopagnosia
Prosopagnosia can be categorized either based on its cause or its symptoms.
The good news is that treatment can help a person with this disorder develop coping strategies.
In some cases of acquired prosopagnosia, treating the underlying condition may help alleviate symptoms of prosopagnosia.
Sometimes, people don’t even realize they have the disorder until they go for a consultation.
The good news is that the disorder doesn’t cause any physical health complications.
It can, however, take a toll on your mental health.
Many people with prosopagnosia report feeling frustrated, ashamed, anxious, or angry about their condition.
This often causes self-isolation andsocial anxiety.
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