Overview
Face blindness (prosopagnosia) is a neurological disorder that makes it difficult to recognize familiar faces, sometimes even of close family and friends.
Symptoms
Difficulty recognizing familiar people by face Reliance on voice, clothing, or other cues to identify people Feeling socially awkward or anxious in new environments
Causes
Brain injury, stroke, or trauma to the fusiform gyrus Developmental causes in congenital prosopagnosia Neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease
Diagnosis
Neurological examination Face recognition tests Brain imaging (MRI or CT) if acquired
Treatment
No cure exists, but coping strategies can help Use of distinctive features, voice, or context to recognize people Support and counseling for social challenges
Complications
Social anxiety and isolation Difficulty maintaining personal or professional relationships
Prevention
Congenital cases cannot be prevented Protect the head from injury to avoid acquired cases