On October 6, 1802, Ludwig van Beethoven penned a poignant letter to his brothers, expressing his deep frustration and despair over his worsening deafness. For an artist who relied on his hearing to create masterpieces, this was an incredibly low point. The image of Beethoven, who was conducting his Ninth Symphony while deaf, needing to be turned around to witness the audience’s applause, poignantly captures his plight. The mystery of why Beethoven became deaf has intrigued many for years.
Today, thanks to advancements in DNA analysis, scientists can extract valuable information from organic matter belonging to individuals who lived long ago. This includes hair, which can reveal insights into historical health and environmental conditions. In Beethoven’s case, locks of his hair, cut from his head possibly as he lay dying, were recently confirmed by DNA analysis to be authentic.
An Australian owner of three locks of Beethoven’s hair sought to honor the composer’s wish for future scientists to uncover the cause of his ailments. Two locks were sent to the Mayo Clinic in the United States, where scientists analyzed them for chemical and metal content.
The results were startling. Beethoven’s hair contained extraordinarily high levels of lead, some of the highest concentrations the scientists had ever encountered. This indicated that Beethoven suffered from severe lead poisoning, likely compounded by mercury and arsenic poisoning, also detected in significant amounts. Lead poisoning can adversely affect the nervous system and cause deafness. One probable source of this lead exposure was ‘lead sugar,’ used to sweeten cheap wine, which could accumulate in the body over time.
These findings illustrate how the past informs the present, enhancing our understanding of historical health issues and their impact on modern health.
Beethoven’s case is not unique. The hair of Isabella of Aragon, a princess of Naples who died in 1524 and is believed by some to be the model for Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, was also analyzed. Her hair revealed toxic levels of mercury—up to 50 parts per million, far exceeding the World Health Organization’s safe limit of 5 ppm. While mercury poisoning weakened her immune system, Isabella likely succumbed to leishmaniasis, a disease causing severe skin lesions and organ damage. Ironically, mercury was administered as a remedy for skin diseases, exacerbating her condition.
Such historical analyses are not limited to European figures. Radiological scans of Egyptian mummies, such as Pharaoh Amenhotep I, have also yielded fascinating insights. Scanned by Cairo-based radiologist Sahar Saleem, Amenhotep I’s mummified body revealed physical characteristics, burial artifacts, and even a dead wasp, likely attracted by floral garlands in the coffin.
Despite the wealth of preserved artifacts and remains, similar scientific research is less common in other parts of the world rich in ancient civilizations. Exploring the health and lifestyles of historical figures from these regions could provide valuable insights into past cultures and their evolution.
Understanding historical health patterns, from royalty to commoners, helps us comprehend modern health issues and their origins. This knowledge can shed light on how past lifestyles continue to influence present-day health, particularly in women.
As science advances, the mysteries of the past can be unraveled, offering profound insights into our history and evolution. The challenge lies in determining which mysteries to solve and which to leave as enduring enigmas.