The Life in the Established Artists Suffered with Multiple Sclerosis
Dae Hie Lee, MD, PhD
Seocho Sanitarium Hospital, Department of Neurology, Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul, Korea
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system (CNS) characterized by inflammation, destruction of myelin and axon, intermittent disability, and eventual chronic progressive neurological deterioration. Because no specific test for MS is available, diagnosis mostly rely on the clinical signs and symptoms with characteristic remission and exacerbations. Even if many breakthroughs in imaging technology developed, history taking is much important for the diagnostic process of MS. Since Augustus d'Este was the first to describe his own experience late in the eighteenth century, which was presumed as clinical manifestations of MS, other artists had described those of MS in their lifes. The life and creativity of artists led us to indirectly infer relations with the affected disease and the brain functions. Possible mechanisms of artistic drive and creative idea generation in these artists are also considered. Additionally, a pathographic investigation into the disease through their records in bygone ages is interesting and meaningful to clinicians living today. So I revealed their art working, personal life and history of the illness.
Journal of Multiple Sclerosis 2(2):29-39, 2011
