Jean-Martin Charcot at 200: revolutionizing neurology through a multidisciplinary lens

Abstract

As we near the bicentenary of his birth, Jean-Martin Charcot (1825-1893) is remembered not only as the founder of modern neurology but also as a uomo universale. His multidisciplinary approach transcended 19 th -century medicine, establishing neurology as a distinct discipline while integrating art, psychology, and philosophy into his study of the nervous system. His work laid foundations for neurodegenerative diseases (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis [ALS], Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis [MS]), functional neurological disorders (FNDs), and psychoanalysis, foreshadowing neuroplasticity and the mind-body connection. His innovative teaching at Salpêtrière-merging anatomy with artistic documentation-revolutionized medical education, inspiring figures from Freud to modern neuroscientists. Two centuries later, Charcot's legacy endures not just in eponyms but in his unifying vision of brain, mind, and art - a timeless model for interdisciplinary medicine. The present paper explores his impact on neurodegenerative research, functional disorders, medical pedagogy, and the humanities.