Research on locks of hair sheds light on Beethoven’s cause of death and his lineage: “Somewhere there is an illegitimate child” | Science & Planet

The striking study was published in the scientific journal Current Biology. With the results, the team, led by Cambridge University, sheds light on the health problems of the famous German with Belgian roots. Beethoven died in Vienna in 1827 at the age of 56.

Before his death, Beethoven himself had given permission to conduct research after his death, genetic genealogist Maarten Larmuseau (KU Leuven), who participated in the research, told Radio 1 this afternoon. “He said: ‘I have hearing problems here, problems with my intestines and stomach, … I have been concise in my genius due to health problems. So after my death you can certainly do research.’”

So happened. For the research, the scientists studied eight different hair strands from both private and public collections. In the end, they determined that five locks actually came from Beethoven. One tuft of hair that previously led to the theory that Beethoven died of lead poisoning turned out to be from a woman. This theory could be written off, according to the researchers.

Beethoven experienced hearing loss in his twenties and eventually became completely deaf in 1818, several years before his death. That did not stop him from continuing to compose music.

The scientists could not find a definite reason for these hearing problems. No genetic factor has been found for hearing problems. The researchers do not rule out the possibility that new techniques will provide more clarity about this in the future.

However, a clear genetic factor has been found for his cause of death: it was discovered that the musical genius had a genetic predisposition to liver problems and the researchers found evidence of a hepatitis B infection in the months before his death. Add to that a high alcohol consumption and you get a clearly life-threatening mix.

“It is known that he was not averse to a glass too many,” says genetic genealogist Maarten Larmuseau. “The combination of those three things is the most logical explanation for the serious liver disease (cirrhosis of the liver, ed.) That ultimately killed Beethoven.”

“Most of his contemporaries claim that his alcohol consumption was still moderate by 19th-century Viennese standards,” says lead researcher Tristan Begg. considered for the liver.”

According to the researchers, celiac disease or lactose intolerance are unlikely to explain Beethoven’s stomach and intestinal complaints.

Also notable: the research points to a case of “extra pair paternity” through Beethoven’s paternal line. By this they mean an illegitimate child. The researchers place the bastard child somewhere between the conception of Hendrik van Beethoven in Kampenhout in Flemish Brabant around 1572 and the conception of Ludwig van Beethoven seven generations later.

Genetic genealogist Maarten Larmuseau and his KU Leuven colleagues reconstructed the Belgian family tree using DNA from living male relatives. “We studied all five different Flemish branches of Van Beethovens and compared the Y chromosome with each other,” explains Larmuseau. “Ludwig appears to have a completely different Y chromosome than the other Van Beethovens.”

In other words: “There has been a ‘cuckoo child’ somewhere in the family tree”. Does this mean that Beethoven has no Flemish roots? “We don’t know where exactly it happened in the generations.” The results do show that the direct paternal line of the virtuoso must be sought. “Ludwig’s father may not be his father’s biological child. That has already been suggested in a book.”

The scientists emphasize that biology alone does not say everything about relatedness. Ludwig van Beethoven and his Belgian relatives also all go back to the same common ancestor, Aert van Beethoven. The relatives are therefore still related to the composer.