Neurosyphilis and classical music: the great composers and “The Great Imitator”

Abstract

Throughout history, neurosyphilis has victimized many people, including classical composers, with a wide range of clinical presentations. Methods: Six articles with descriptions of composers with possible neurosyphilis were reviewed. Results: Neurosyphilis is a possible diagnosis for composers like Beethoven, whose progressive hearing loss influenced his career, culminating in complete deafness. In his autopsy, cochlear nerve atrophy and cochlear inflammation were described. Donizetti developed behavioral changes, as well as headaches, general paresis and seizures. Both Schumann and Wolf suffered from personality changes, persecutory delusions and general paresis. Joplin and Delius also had symptoms attributed to syphilis. Autopsy findings confirmed the diagnosis of Smetana, who developed dementia, deafness and auditory hallucinations with rapid progression. His tinnitus was musically represented in his first String Quartet. Conclusion: Neurosyphilis victimized several notorious composers. It can be argued that neurosyphilis was a major source of inspiration as well, being responsible for the genesis of musical masterpieces.

“…In the immortal forms of beauty”: Frédéric Chopin seen through the eyes of the father of Brazilian neurological semiology

“…From Bedrich Smetana, who incorporated the sounds of his neurological disease into a composition for string quartet 8 , to Oliver Sacks' insightful writings on amusia from a medical perspective 9 , few relationships are more fruitful than that of Music and Medicine. In his lecture, Aloysio de Castro further reinforced the bond, providing us not only with the typical analysis of the artist's death but also an intense appraisal of his life and the spiritual aspects of the performance of Chopin's music.…”

Aetiology of Ludwig van Beethoven’s hearing impairment: hypotheses over the past 100 years – A systematic review

“…In addition to the missing typical anamnestic and autoptic findings regarding the signs of syphilis in Beethoven, a more recent examination of a ringlet of the composer in 2000 demonstrated that there was no detectable mercury in Beethoven's hair which makes syphilis therapy with mercury unlikely [26]. In opposition to these arguments against syphilis as the cause of Beethoven's hearing impairment, the syphilis diagnosis has gained interest again in the medical literature of the twenty-first century by up to now four authors with medical specialization in infectiology, neurology, and psychiatry favouring this aetiology anew [27][28][29][30]. Overall, syphilis is still one of the aetiologies which has most often been accused of being the cause of Beethoven's hearing loss by medical publishers over the past 100 years.…”

Hemorrhagic Stroke as Inspiration for Poetry: The Case of Alfred Tennyson, Arthur Henry Hallam, and In Memoriam A.H.H.

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