George Gershwin (1898–1937) – genius composer, malignant brain tumor patient. malignant glioma: An irritating/stimulating element in triggering geniality?

Abstract

George Gershwin (1898–1937) was one of the most influential American composers of the 20th century. Likewise his swift, comet-like, career progress from a high school dropout to an iconic composer of the 20th century: “The man who said he had more notes in his head than he could write down in a hundred years died suddenly … in Hollywood”. His malignant glioma presented symptoms only in his last year of life and even then, the symptoms were masked by other hectic events in his personal life, which typical accompany the life of a famous and handsome composer from Hollywood. Considering new, emerging studies regarding the relationship between gliomas and brain activity, the authors explore the following questions: (i) Is intense neuronal, intellectual activity a cause that can trigger the development of a malignant brain tumor, especially a glioblastoma? (ii) Is glioblastoma and its connections with normal nerve cells, with noble tissue (a fact demonstrated in recent years), a cause that can trigger geniality, a different thought process from most people with a normal-functioning brain?.