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 comp...
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| Language: | English |
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Thieme Revinter Publicações
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| Series: | Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria |
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| Online Access: | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0004-282X2018001100791&lng=en&tlng=en |
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| author | Matheus Kahakura Franco Pedro Francisco Manoel Branco Germiniani Hélio A. G. Teive |
| author_facet | Matheus Kahakura Franco Pedro Francisco Manoel Branco Germiniani Hélio A. G. Teive |
| author_sort | Matheus Kahakura Franco Pedro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e512cbb0c392419ba4e48a4e16656af4 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1678-4227 |
| language | English |
| publisher | Thieme Revinter Publicações |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria |
| spelling | doaj-art-e512cbb0c392419ba4e48a4e16656af42025-08-20T03:26:20ZengThieme Revinter PublicaçõesArquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria1678-4227761179179410.1590/0004-282x20180122S0004-282X2018001100791Neurosyphilis and classical music: the great composers and “The Great Imitator”Matheus Kahakura Franco PedroFrancisco Manoel Branco GerminianiHélio A. G. TeiveABSTRACT 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.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0004-282X2018001100791&lng=en&tlng=enNeurossífilismúsicacompositores, história da medicinaneurologia |
| spellingShingle | Matheus Kahakura Franco Pedro Francisco Manoel Branco Germiniani Hélio A. G. Teive Neurosyphilis and classical music: the great composers and “The Great Imitator” Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria Neurossífilis música compositores, história da medicina neurologia |
| title | Neurosyphilis and classical music: the great composers and “The Great Imitator” |
| title_full | Neurosyphilis and classical music: the great composers and “The Great Imitator” |
| title_fullStr | Neurosyphilis and classical music: the great composers and “The Great Imitator” |
| title_full_unstemmed | Neurosyphilis and classical music: the great composers and “The Great Imitator” |
| title_short | Neurosyphilis and classical music: the great composers and “The Great Imitator” |
| title_sort | neurosyphilis and classical music the great composers and the great imitator |
| topic | Neurossífilis música compositores, história da medicina neurologia |
| url | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0004-282X2018001100791&lng=en&tlng=en |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT matheuskahakurafrancopedro neurosyphilisandclassicalmusicthegreatcomposersandthegreatimitator AT franciscomanoelbrancogerminiani neurosyphilisandclassicalmusicthegreatcomposersandthegreatimitator AT helioagteive neurosyphilisandclassicalmusicthegreatcomposersandthegreatimitator |