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Researchers have found out that Beethoven contracted a life-threatening disease in the final months of his life.
The genetic analysis of strands of Ludwig van Beethoven's hair provided new information regarding the legendary composer's untimely death in March 1827.
The recent study, "Genomic analyses of hair from Ludwig van Beethoven," was published in Current Biology on Wednesday, according to Fox News.
Its principal researcher, University of Cambridge biological anthropologist Tristan Begg, revealed that eight strands of Beethoven hair ascribed to the German composer were evaluated in an effort to identify probable underlying genetic and communicable causes of his diseases.
Researchers discovered in Beethoven DNA a family history of liver illness and a life-threatening hepatitis B infection during his final months.
The Beethoven DNA study suggests such factors, together with his habitual drinking, were probably enough to induce the liver failure that ultimately led to Beethoven's death.
The German composer died in Vienna on March 26, 1827, aged 56. He said in his own writing that he hoped medical professionals would examine his health issues after Beethoven death
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Other Possible Diseases Detected in Beethoven DNA Analysis
Beethoven, well renowned for his symphonies such as "Für Elise" and "Piano Sonata No.14" began suffering the loss of hearing in his 20s and was completely deaf by 1818, as per an NBC News story.
He was "hopelessly affected" by the hearing impairment and said he would have attempted suicide as a result if he hadn't wanted to die before producing "all the works that I felt the urge to compose."
Medical biographers have conjectured throughout the years that Beethoven's hearing loss was caused by a hereditary disorder.
Beethoven DNA researchers were unable to pin down the root reason for his hearing loss, although they suspect a number of conditions, including otosclerosis (adult-onset hearing loss), Paget's disease of bone (in which the body fails to repair old bone tissue), or Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis problems that led to Beethoven death, according to a CBS News report.
Researchers said additional Beethoven DNA testing was needed to pin down the time he contracted hepatitis B and maybe reveal his ancestry.
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