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Prosopamnesia: a case report of amnesia for faces
Stefano Merolla1, Monica Borella1, Ignazio Michele Santilli1
1Department of Neurology, Desio Hospital, ASST Brianza, Desio, Italy.
Neurocase
|June 13, 2022
Summary
This study details a rare case of prosopamnesia, a memory disorder affecting face learning but not face recognition. The findings highlight a new instance of late-onset primary prosopamnesia in a 68-year-old woman.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neurology
Background:
- Prosopamnesia is a rare memory disorder characterized by impaired face learning, distinct from prosopagnosia (face recognition deficit).
- Only two adult cases of prosopamnesia have been documented previously, one congenital and one acquired due to brain injury.
Observation:
- A 68-year-old woman presented with difficulties recognizing recently encountered individuals.
- Neuropsychological testing confirmed face-specific anterograde amnesia.
- Crucially, she exhibited no signs of prosopagnosia or other memory deficits.
Findings:
- Brain MRI revealed no focal lesions.
- PET scans indicated bilateral frontotemporal hypoactivation.
- This case represents the first documented instance of late-onset primary prosopamnesia.
Implications:
- This case expands the known spectrum of prosopamnesia, particularly highlighting its potential for late-onset primary manifestation.
- Understanding the neural correlates (frontotemporal hypoactivation) may offer insights into the mechanisms of face-specific memory formation and retrieval.
- Further research into late-onset prosopamnesia could inform diagnostic approaches and potential interventions for face-selective memory impairments.
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