Agnosia
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What is Agnosia?Is there any treatment?What is the prognosis?What research is being done?OrganizationsWhat is Agnosia?
Agnosia is a rare disorder characterized by an inability to recognize and identify objects or persons despite having knowledge
of the characteristics of the objects or persons. People with agnosia may have difficulty recognizing the geometric features
of an object or face or may be able to perceive the geometric features but not know what the object is used for or whether
a face is familiar or not. Agnosia can be limited to one sensory modality such as vision or hearing. For example, a person
may have difficulty in recognizing an object as a cup or identifying a sound as a cough. Agnosia can result from strokes,
dementia, developmental disorders, or other neurological conditions. It typically results from damage to specific brain areas
in the occipital or parietal lobes of the brain. People with agnosia may retain their cognitive abilities in other areas.
Is there any treatment?
Treatment is generally symptomatic and supportive. The primary cause of the disorder should be determined in order to treat
other problems that may contribute to or result in agnosia.
What is the prognosis?
Agnosia can compromise quality of life.
What research is being done?
The NINDS supports research on disorders of the brain such as agnosia with the goal of finding ways to prevent or cure them.
Select this link
to view a list of studies currently seeking patients.
Organizations
Prepared by:
Office of Communications and Public Liaison
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, MD 20892
NINDS health-related material is provided for information purposes only and does not necessarily represent endorsement by
or an official position of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke or any other Federal agency. Advice
on the treatment or care of an individual patient should be obtained through consultation with a physician who has examined
that patient or is familiar with that patient's medical history.
All NINDS-prepared information is in the public domain and may be freely copied. Credit to the NINDS or the NIH is appreciated.
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Last updated February 08, 2007
