Ernest Hemingway

“But man is not made for defeat”: insights into Ernest Hemingway’s dementia

“…Hemingway presented early signs of a psychiatric condition, possibly bipolar disorder, with documented maniac and depressive episodes, in addition to a significant family history of suicide ( Figure 2 ), although only his father had committed suicide before him 1 - 3 , 7 . Many patients with this condition share outstanding creativity 7 , 8 .…”

“…The precise onset of Hemingway’s decline is unclear, but it possibly initiated during his fifth decade of life 1 - 3 . The disease was marked by a primacy of behavioral symptoms with late cognitive issues, raising several hypotheses ( Table 1 ) 1 - 3 .…”

“…He would often say inappropriate things during social gatherings and engage in more sexually liberated experiences. This disinhibition can be perceived in the sexual themes present in his last works, A moveable feast and G arden of Eden 1 - 3 . The former cruelly depicts his first two wives and his friendship with Scott Fitzgerald, possibly motivated by disinhibition.…”

“…His paranoia and delusions increased, with a belief that he was under FBI surveillance. Other sources of paranoia were his hypochondria, fear of impoverishment, and the possibility of arrest for illegal hunting and for “taking liberties with a minor” 1 - 3 .…”

“…Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961) ( Figure 1 ) is one of the world's most praised literary writers. His objective prose created masterpieces such as For whom the bell tolls and The old man and the sea 1 - 4 .…”