Actor Brad Pitt revealed in a recent interview that he suffers from prosopagnosia, a rare neurological disorder also known as “facial blindness.”
Dani Blum describes the disorder’s signs, causes, and remedies in an article for the New York Times.
Borna Bonakdarpour, a behavioral neurologist at Northwestern Medicine, claims that face blindness—not color blindness or general vision impairment—is the main symptom of prosopagnosia.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke states that there is no connection between the illness and memory loss, vision problems, or learning impairments.
Blum continues, “It is not the same as forgetting or occasionally having trouble finding the correct word.
The severity of prosopagnosia will differ from person to person.
For instance, some people might have problems identifying a familiar face, such as that of a close friend or relative, while others might have trouble identifying their own reflection.
Additionally, some people might not be able to distinguish between faces and objects.
Notably, some data indicates that individuals with prosopagnosia may have chronic anxiety or depression due to the loneliness and fear that are frequently associated with the illness.
Blum notes that some people avoid contact with family members and other loved ones out of concern that they won’t be able to properly recognize or acknowledge them.
“Navigating basic social relationships with prosopagnosia can become difficult,” she says.
Pitt admitted that he has trouble recognizing people’s faces for years in a recent interview with GQ, despite never having gotten a formal prosopagnosia diagnosis.
In fact, Pitt claimed in a 2013 interview with Esquire that his difficulty recognizing people’s appearances was so great that it frequently made him want to isolate himself.
He explained, “That’s why I stay at home.
What is the condition’s cause?
People who are diagnosed with prosopagnosia often fall into one of two categories: either they are born with it or they acquire it.
However, estimations reveal that as many as one in every 50 people may struggle with some lifetime form of the disorder, and experts hypothesize that it may run in families.
According to Blum, research “suggests that congenital, or lifelong, prosopagnosia is less prevalent.”
According to Andrey Stojic, director of general neurology at the Cleveland Clinic, children born with the illness “don’t seem to have any visible structural abnormality” in the brain.
Notably, doctors don’t fully understand what causes congenital prosopagnosia because there aren’t any obvious brain lesions in persons who have it.
In contrast, people who develop prosopagnosia later in life may have brain abnormalities brought on by a trauma or head injury.
According to Bonakdarpour, individuals can also develop prosopagnosia while dealing with Alzheimer’s illness or following a stroke.
What therapies are available for prosopagnosia?
Prosopagnosia is now untreatable, according to Bonakdarpour. The problem can be treated, though.
People who have the syndrome frequently attempt to distinguish between people by focusing on physical characteristics like hair color, gait, or voice.
Science Shows That Women Sleep Better Next To Dogs Than Men
Undoubtedly, the importance of a good night’s sleep for overall health is widely acknowledged. With numerous studies exploring the optimal ways to achieve quality rest, recent research proposes a surprising solution, sharing the bed with dogs. Canisius College in New York State spearheaded this unconventional investigation, revealing that women experience better sleep next to their canine companions compared to human or feline counterparts.
Lead researcher Christy Hoffman, Ph.D., an animal behaviorist, conducted a survey involving nearly a thousand women across the United States to draw these intriguing conclusions. The results unveiled that 55% of participants shared their beds with at least one dog, 31% with a cat, and 57% with a human partner.
Hoffman delved into the reasons behind dogs emerging as superior sleep partners. The study highlighted that dogs’ sleep patterns align more closely with humans than those of cats. Hoffman theorizes that this synchronization may contribute to improved sleep quality, as dogs are adept at accommodating their owners’ sleep schedules, potentially mitigating disruptions caused by differing bedtime routines.
Furthermore, the structured routines imposed by dogs, such as morning walks, assist in regulating their owners’ daily schedules, thereby enhancing overall sleep quality. Another contributing factor is the physical stillness of dogs during sleep, unlike fidgety feline companions. Women in the study reported that dogs tended to remain on the bed throughout the night, fostering a sense of security and stability.
The study’s third crucial finding emphasizes the unique sense of security that dogs provide. Unlike cats or even human partners, dogs offer a heightened level of psychological comfort. Hoffman suggests that the perception of dogs as vigilant protectors, capable of alerting their owners to potential intruders, plays a role in enhancing the sense of security.
Despite these intriguing findings, the study acknowledges the subjectivity of sleep preferences. Factors such as a dog’s snoring or generating excess warmth could pose challenges. Additionally, there are individuals who find solace in the companionship of cats during bedtime.
It’s essential to note that the study relies on participants’ subjective perceptions of their pets’ impact on sleep quality and duration. Consequently, further research is necessary to definitively crown dogs as superior sleeping partners. Hoffman emphasizes the need for continued exploration into the various contexts under which pets positively or negatively influence sleep quality.
As American households increasingly welcome pets, understanding these dynamics becomes crucial. Future research may utilize technologies like Fitbit-like devices to objectively track sleep quality in diverse sleeping conditions, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the intricate relationship between humans and their animal companions during bedtime.
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