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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2018; 76(11): 791-794
DOI: 10.1590/0004-282X20180122
Historical Note

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

Neurossífilis e música clássica: os grandes compositores e “A Grande Imitadora”
Matheus Kahakura Franco Pedro
1   Instituto de Neurologia de Curitiba, Departmento de Neurologia, Curitiba PR, Brasil
,
Francisco Manoel Branco Germiniani
2   Universidade Federal do Paraná, Hospital de Clínicas, Serviço de Neurologia, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Curitiba PR, Brasil
,
Hélio A. G. Teive
2   Universidade Federal do Paraná, Hospital de Clínicas, Serviço de Neurologia, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Curitiba PR, Brasil
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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.

RESUMO

Através da história, a neurossífilis vitimou milhares de pessoas, incluindo compositores clássicos, com uma grande gama de manifestações.

Métodos: Seis artigos com descrições de compositores com possível neurossífilis foram revisados.

Resultados: Neurossífilis é um diagnóstico possível para compositores como Beethoven, cuja perda auditiva progressiva influenciou sua carreira, culminando com surdez completa. Em sua autópsia foram descritas inflamação e atrofia dos nervos cocleares. Donizetti desenvolveu alterações comportamentais, bem como cefaleias, paresia e convulsões. Tanto Schumann quanto Wolf sofreram com alterações comportamentais, delírios persecutórios e paresia. Joplin e Delius também tiveram sintomas relacionados a sífilis. Achados de autópsia confirmaram o diagnóstico de Smetana, que desenvolveu demência, surdez e alucinações auditivas rapidamente progressivas. Seu tinito foi musicalmente representados em seu Quarteto de Cordas No. 1.

Conclusão: Neurossífilis vitimou diversos compositores de destaque. Pode-se argumentar que a doença chegou a ser grande fonte de inspiração e mesmo responsável pela gênese de diversas obras-primas.

Keywords:

Neurosyphilis - music - composers, history of medicine - neurology

Palavras-chave:

Neurossífilis - música - compositores, história da medicina - neurologia


Publication History

Received: 16 March 2018

Accepted: 10 August 2018

Article published online:
22 August 2023

© 2023. Academia Brasileira de Neurologia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commecial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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