Encephalitis lethargica

Encephalitis Lethargica is a disease that was first described by Dr Constantin von Economo in April 1917, and is sometimes referred to as "von Economos disease". He defined the following different forms of the disease: somnolent-ophthalmoplegic, hyperkinetic, and amyostatic-akinetic. He also described postencephalitic Parkinsonism. Symptoms can emerge years after the original infection. The disease was defined by the following neuropathologic findings: "inflammatory changes in the tegmentum of the midbrain accounting for the sleep disturbance and ocular signs". "

The Encephalitis Lethargica disease occured at the same time and following the aftermath of the infamous Spanish Flu. The film "Awakenings", 1990 described some patients with this disease.

Notable studies

 * 2001, ”von Economo encephalitis”

Learn more

 * 1925, YouTube: Acute Encephalitis Lethargica
 * 1990, iMDB: Awakenings