New study underlines familial link in face processing disorders

New evidence has underlined the genetic link for the prevalence of developmental prosopagnosia in families.

Prosopagnosia, also called face blindness, is the inability of the brain to recognise and process faces, leading to a deficit in facial recognition. Those with the condition often have difficulty recognising known faces by their features alone. Those with a developmental form of the condition have often had the condition from birth.

The new study shows a strong familial link for developmental prosopagnosia, showing that those with the condition are more likely to have family members who also have a form of developmental prosopagnosia. Some reports suggest up to 2% of the population could present with the condition.

The new study looked at the cases of identical twins, as well as extended family members, showing that at least in some cases, developmental prosopagnosia can be inherited, further adding to the body of evidence to support the understanding of the condition.

In the case studies, five adult siblings, and one set of identical twins, were tested and presented with some degree of prosopagnosia, in that their facial identity perception was impaired. The findings support the hereditary link of developmental face blindness.

Professor Sarah Bate, an expert in face processing disorders and Interim Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange at Bournemouth University, led the study and said, “Over the last decade, our understanding of face processing conditions has deepened to the point where we are really starting to understand the links and challenges people with face processing disorders face.

“This latest study helps to underline the familial links that can exist for people with developmental prosopagnosia, a step that helps with both diagnosis and management of the condition, and the depth of knowledge we now have helps to shed light on this condition and its prevalence in society as we continue to understand how we can help and support people with prosopagnosia”.

Academics from the University of Gloucestershire and Brunel University also took part in the study. The study was published in the journal Brain Sciences.