John F. Kennedy: Addison’s Disease
John F. Kennedy served as the 35th president of the United States of America, being assassinated before he could finish his first term. Sadly, the president, also known as JFK, lived a life filled with pain before his untimely death. He is said to have been diagnosed with a disorder called Addison’s disease in 1947, years before he was sworn in as president in 1961. This only added to the future politician’s troubles, as he already struggled with digestive problems, ulcers, and severe lower back pain.
Addison’s disease is an uncommon condition with genetic causes. People with Addison’s disease have adrenal glands that do not produce enough of a hormone called cortisol and that may not produce enough of another hormone called aldosterone. The results of these hormone deficiencies include extreme fatigue, weight loss, and low blood pressure. JFK probably took steroids to treat his condition but these medications likely caused him to develop osteoporosis, a disease in which bone density decreases.
Charles Darwin: Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome
Charles Darwin was an English naturalist who came up with the theory of evolution by natural selection. He also probably suffered from a genetic disease called cyclic vomiting syndrome. Cyclic vomiting syndrome, or CVS, is characterized by episodes of severe vomiting that have no clear cause and that may last for hours or even days.
Researchers believe that Darwin’s CVS was caused by a genetic mutation that affected a portion of his cells called the mitochondria. This led to a mitochondrial disorder that then led to his cyclic vomiting syndrome. Darwin suffered from extreme nausea and vomiting his entire life. Even his famous voyage on the HMS Beagle that took him to the Galapagos Islands was filled with “seasickness.”
Niccolò Paganini: Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome or Marfan’s Syndrome
Niccolò Paganini was an Italian virtuoso violinist who lived between 1782 and 1840. He was so skilled at his instrument that he was made a knight by the Pope and is considered the greatest violinist of all time. The musician’s long and flexible fingers may have contributed to his talent but may have also been the result of a genetic disease.
One contender for the cause of Paganini’s unusual fingers is Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, or EDS. EDS is a condition known to weaken connective tissue. It causes overly flexible joints, stretchier skin, and other issues. The second contender is Marfan’s syndrome. Marfan’s syndrome also affects the connective tissue but typically results in longer limbs and fingers. Most researchers have come to the conclusion that Paganini had Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and that his fingers just appeared longer due to his ability to stretch them.
