The History of Parkinson's Disease and Famous Patients

BACKGROUND: Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases. However, the history of PD and famous persons with PD have not been described in detail yet. METHODS: We summarized the history of PD before the first description of James Parkinson's. The four famous patients who were suspected or diagnosed with PD were reviewed through peer-reviewed journals as well as biographies, books, and media. RESULTS: Before the definition of PD was established, there were descriptions of various Parkinsonian symptoms in several literatures. The diagnoses of Adolf Hitler and Na Hyeseok are not certain and we only suspect that they had parkinsonism. The diagnoses of PD of the Pope John Paul II and Muhammad Ali are certain as they had medical records as well as video records that shows progressive deterioration. CONCLUSIONS: Even before James Parkinson, PD have been recognized and described focusing on the bradykinesia and tremor. We should keep in mind that detailed examination as well as transcriptions are important, and that long-term follow-up is needed to document or differentiate PD and its mimics.

Dr. Antonio de Gordon y Acosta, profesor de conocimientos enciclopédicos / Dr. Antonio de Gordon and Acosta, teacher of encyclopedic knowledge i: en

Se expone una semblanza biográfica del doctor Antonio M. de Gordon y Acosta en la que se hacen destacar su origen familiar, sus enciclopédicos estudios universitarios, su no menos abarcadora labor en la docencia, su extensa y diversa obra científica y su amplio reconocimiento por academias y sociedades científicas de países de 4 continentes. Por último se cita el largo ostracismo de los años finales de su vida como consecuencia de la cesantía en su cargo de catedrático universitario decretada al finalizar la dominación española en Cuba.

A biographical sketch of Dr Antonio M. de Gordon y Acosta is presented, which underlines his family origin, his encyclopedic university studies, comprehensive teaching work and wide recognition by scientific academies and societies from countries in four continents and finally the isolation of this man in the last years of his life after having been laid off from his post as university professor at the end of the Spanish domination in Cuba.