What is prosopagnosia, the condition Ushna Shah just revealed she has?

Have you ever been unable to recognise someone’s face? Does it happen so often that it’s frustrating? It happens to Ushna Shah, so much so that she shared on her social media that she suffers from prosopagnosia, or face blindness, which affects a person’s ability to recognise faces.

According to Harvard Medical School, face blindness is “a mystifying condition that can trick us into believing we recognise people we’ve never met or make us fail to recognise those we have”. A recent study published in Cortex indicated that as many as one in 33 people (3.08 per cent) may meet the criteria for prosopagnosia.

Shah took to her Instagram story to share that over time, the condition has become more prominent for her and she often fails to immediately recognise people, even in familiar settings.

“What was once a joke has evolved into a frustrating experience over the years, and I am sure I am not alone,” the actor wrote, adding her message to her Instagram highlights for those who know her and those who may know her in the future.

Shah emphasised that if she was unable to recognise someone during an interaction, it was because of this condition and not due to a “lack of recognition or care”.

The Habs actor hoped that her message would encourage more conversation about face blindness and how it could affect daily interactions.

“Thank you for your understanding and support as we continue to foster openness and empathy.”

We hope Shah finds comfort, support and strength as she navigates this condition.