Prosopagnosia manifests in two primary forms: acquired and developmental.

Acquired prosopagnosia can result from various neurological conditions, including cerebrovascular diseases, tumors, certain epileptic seizures, infections, dementia, hypoxia, carbon monoxide poisoning, and head trauma. Its onset can be abrupt, as seen in cases of stroke or traumatic brain injury, or gradual, often associated with conditions like dementia or slow-growing tumors. This form typically involves bilateral structural damage in the occipito-parietal regions of the brain.

In contrast, developmental prosopagnosia refers to a lifelong difficulty in developing adequate face recognition abilities. This condition may be congenital and can sometimes go undiagnosed for extended periods. It is often associated with a hereditary predisposition.