This Disease Turned 5 Million People Into Statues, And Then Vanished
Joe Scott・2 minutes read
A mysterious illness called encephalitis lethargica led to patients like Leonard at Beth Abraham Hospital being in a 30-year catatonic state, with the disease linked to a real-life "zombie outbreak" in the early 20th century. Various theories, including infectious viruses and autoimmune disorders, have been proposed to explain the origins of encephalitis lethargica, highlighting the long-term effects of viral infections on the nervous system and the need for more research.
Insights
- Encephalitis lethargica, also known as sleeping sickness, caused a global pandemic in the early 20th century, leaving patients in a catatonic state resembling a real-life zombie outbreak, with some never recovering.
- The use of levodopa by Dr. Oliver Sacks in the 1960s temporarily awakened catatonic patients, inspiring the book "Awakenings," highlighting the potential link between encephalitis lethargica and parkinsonism, while current research explores autoimmune and viral theories for the disease's cause.
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Recent questions
What is encephalitis lethargica?
Encephalitis lethargica, also known as sleeping sickness, is a mysterious illness that swept the country in the early 20th century, leaving patients in a catatonic state. It was first documented in Europe in 1916, with patients showing extreme malaise, neurological symptoms, and a desire to sleep, leading to a catatonic state for some.
Who was the first to publish a paper on encephalitis lethargica?
Dr. Constantin von Economo from the University of Vienna was the first to publish a paper on encephalitis lethargica in 1917, naming it "sleeping sickness." He classified the disease into three forms: ostatic-akinetic, hyperkinetic, and somnolent-ophthalmoplegic, with the most common being the somnolent-ophthalmoplegic type.
What treatment led to the awakening of catatonic patients in 1969?
In the 1960s, Dr. Oliver Sacks, a neurologist, administered levodopa, a treatment for Parkinson's disease, to the catatonic patients at Beth Abraham Hospital, leading to their awakening and temporary return to normalcy. However, the effects of levodopa eventually wore off, causing the patients to return to their catatonic state.
What is the link between encephalitis lethargica and parkinsonism?
A link was established between encephalitis lethargica and parkinsonism, with many patients developing parkinsonian symptoms after the epidemic, leading to the term "post-encephalitic parkinsonism." This connection raised questions about the underlying pathology of both conditions.
What hypothesis was proposed in the early 2000s regarding encephalitis lethargica?
A hypothesis proposed in the early 2000s suggests encephalitis lethargica may be caused by a post-infectious autoimmune disorder targeting NMDA receptors, affecting neuroplasticity. This theory offers a potential explanation for the origins of the disease and its impact on the nervous system.
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Summary
00:00
"Awakenings: The Sleeping Sickness Mystery Unveiled"
- In 1969, Leonard, a patient at Beth Abraham Hospital in New York, woke up from a 30-year catatonic state after being given an oral medicine by a doctor during his daily routine.
- The mysterious illness that had affected Leonard and others at the hospital was encephalitis lethargica, also known as sleeping sickness, which had swept the country in the early 20th century, leaving patients in a catatonic state.
- The disease was first documented in Europe in 1916, with patients showing extreme malaise, neurological symptoms, and a desire to sleep, leading to a catatonic state for some.
- Dr. Constantin von Economo from the University of Vienna was the first to publish a paper on the disease in 1917, naming it encephalitis lethargica or "sleeping sickness."
- The disease spread to North America in 1918, causing a global pandemic that peaked in 1923, with millions infected and thousands dead, resembling a real-life zombie outbreak.
- After 1925, new cases of the disease stopped appearing, but some patients remained in a catatonic state, leading to the study of survivors for clues on the disease's origin and pathology.
- Dr. von Economo classified encephalitis lethargica into three forms: ostatic-akinetic, hyperkinetic, and somnolent-ophthalmoplegic, with the most common being the somnolent-ophthalmoplegic type.
- A link was established between encephalitis lethargica and parkinsonism, with many patients developing parkinsonian symptoms after the epidemic, leading to the term "post-encephalitic parkinsonism."
- In the 1960s, Dr. Oliver Sacks, a neurologist, administered levodopa, a treatment for Parkinson's disease, to the catatonic patients at Beth Abraham Hospital, leading to their awakening and temporary return to normalcy.
- The effects of levodopa eventually wore off, causing the patients to return to their catatonic state, inspiring Dr. Sacks to write a book called "Awakenings," later adapted into an Oscar-winning movie.
12:39
Encephalitis lethargica: Viral link and autoimmune theory
- Influenza and sepsis have been linked to encephalitis lethargica, with significant neuropathological differences found in the brains of those who died from these conditions compared to those who died from encephalitis lethargica.
- Dr. Von Econo believed an infectious virus caused encephalitis lethargica, but studies have both supported and refuted this theory, with no conclusive evidence.
- A hypothesis proposed in the early 2000s suggests encephalitis lethargica may be caused by a post-infectious autoimmune disorder targeting NMDA receptors, affecting neuroplasticity.
- Russell Dale, a pediatric neurologist, observed elevated NMDA antibodies in patients with encephalitis lethargica, theorizing these antibodies attack basal ganglia neurons, although studies showed abnormalities in other brain regions.
- A 2012 study proposed encephalitis lethargica could be caused by an enterovirus, with virus-like particles found in midbrain neurons, but these results have not been replicated.
- The emergence of long covid symptoms, similar to encephalitis lethargica, in a percentage of the US adult population, raises concerns about the long-term effects of viral infections on the nervous system, emphasizing the need for further research and understanding.
