Brad Pitt recently disclosed his battle with prosopagnosia, commonly known as “face blindness.”
Recently, in an interview with GQ, he mentioned that due to his inability to remember faces, some people perceive him as distant, detached, hard to approach, or excessively focused on himself. However, the actor clarified that he has never received an official diagnosis of prosopagnosia, a condition characterized by the inability to identify faces.
“No one believes me!” Pitt informed the outlet. “I desire to meet another person.”
The previous winner of the Academy Award discussed the subject in an Esquire interview from 2013.
Pitt mentioned in the interview that he encounters numerous individuals. Furthermore, he stated that he often encounters them again. He expressed his preference for staying at home rather than going out during that period.
He might know them from where he might know them, or he might drop a clue hoping that they would remember. He thought that he would trick them into thinking that he had even remembered them if he had a real conversation with them. He said that he had difficulty remembering people, even if he had a conversation with them in the upcoming “Bullet Train” movie.
“Many individuals dislike me because they believe I am showing them disrespect,” he stated.
“But that plan failed,” he stated regarding the experiment. “People were even more offended,” he disclosed that he attempted to be truthful with individuals and inquire about their prior encounters. “…It only deteriorated,” he added.
Still, he expressed that he sensed individuals regarded him as “self-centered” or “arrogant.” Pitt conveyed that he usually expressed gratitude to those who would assist him in social circumstances.
He stated his intention to undergo testing, emphasizing his unique perspective and artistic sensibility, yet he struggles to comprehend facial features. However, this perplexes me, my friend.
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, certain neurodegenerative diseases or traumatic brain injury, as well as stroke, may result in impairment or damage to the part of the brain that coordinates memory and facial perception and control of neural systems. It is believed that prosopagnosia is a consequence of these abnormalities.
In certain situations, the institute declares, “it is an innate condition, occurring from birth without any brain injury.”
Dr. Leah Croll, an assistant professor of neurology at Temple University Hospital, recently informed “Good Morning America” about the diverse range of symptoms individuals may experience and the varying degrees of severity with which they are impacted.
It can be challenging for some individuals to remember the names of unfamiliar individuals they meet, especially in minor difficulties. However, it may be even more difficult for others to recognize their own reflections and acknowledge their own issues, as well as the issues of their family and friends, which could be more severe.
Croll stated that typically when discussing face blindness, the focus is primarily on difficulties in recognizing faces. He further mentioned that although certain individuals may experience related symptoms like the incapacity to identify facial expressions or objects, or challenges in navigation, prosopagnosia specifically pertains to the symptom of being unable to connect a face with a particular identity.
Speaking to those who may have doubts about the idea of “facial blindness,” Croll affirmed that “this is a genuinely authentic condition.”
She said, “These people often come off as cold, aloof, or distant because they’re scared that others will recognize the troubles they’re going through and understand what’s really happening in their lives. It can be really hard for even medical professionals to understand and grasp the concept of faking it, as it is such an abstract idea.”
Though she emphasized that she had not diagnosed him herself, Croll said Pitt’s experience was likely something to which many could relate.
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She stated, “In my opinion, Brad Pitt is going through a situation that numerous patients undergo, wherein they have this peculiar sensation that something is not right, yet they are uncertain about its nature or where to seek assistance.” “I suggest that they consult a neurologist for a comprehensive examination and assessment” if someone finds the Brad Pitt story relatable or experiences comparable symptoms.
Testing includes assessment by a neurologist and a neuropsychologist, who “examine an individual’s visual processing system,” as stated by Croll.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke suggests that efforts to “establish compensatory techniques” should prioritize assisting individuals, even though there is no known cure for prosopagnosia, as Croll affirms.
According to the institute, adults who have the condition due to stroke or brain injury can be retrained to utilize alternative cues for identifying individuals.