Random Things People Have "Diagnosed" Abe Lincoln With (14 items)

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  (#10) Tuberculosis

  • Dyspnea, Chronic cough, Night Sweats, Anorexia, Fatigue, Hemoptysis, Fever, Cough, Chills, Weight loss

  Tuberculosis was a common disease in the time of Lincoln, and some think he and his family members may have contracted it. The deaths of Lincoln’s sons aren’t fully diagnosed, but tuberculosis is a likely culprit in the demises of both Edward and Thomas. There’s no real evidence that Lincoln or Mary Todd themselves caught the illness, but their close proximity to the children makes it a distinct possibility.
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  (#12) Aortic Regurgitation

  Aortic Regurgitation, also known as Aortic Insufficiency, is a condition that involves the aortic valve in the heart leaking. This leak causes blood to flow in the wrong direction, which forces the heart to work harder than it normally does. This can lead to heart failure, among other things.

  Some have speculated that Lincoln’s supposed Marfan Syndrome led to such an insufficiency, and that it can be blamed for his seemingly declining health during his Presidency, but no direct evidence exists.
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  (#13) Epilepsy

  • Tonic–clonic seizure, Blank Stare, Mental confusion, Loss Of Consciousness

  Lincoln did suffer from epileptic seizures in his younger days, but they came from a very clear source. He was kicked in the head by a mule when he was a teenager and knocked unconscious. Shortly thereafter, young Lincoln began to experience “petit-mal” seizures, which weren’t fully understood at the time.

  Lincoln used this incident as a springboard to begin his study of the human brain and its workings, but there’s no evidence that he continued to suffer seizures after he reached adulthood.
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  (#3) Smallpox

  • Enanthem, Macule

  Lincoln did have smallpox at one point in his life. He is said to have contracted the disease right after he delivered his famous Gettysburg Address in 1863, but most thought it was a mild case.

  Recent evidence suggests that the illness affected him more seriously than previously thought, and that it hampered him while in the White House. Some claim that Lincoln had to carefully choose which advisors he personally met with in order to avoid further complications.
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  (#1) Marfan syndrome

  Probably the most common diagnosis associated with Lincoln is Marfan Syndrome, a genetic disorder that affects one’s connective tissue. It’s easy to see why people might think Lincoln had it, as its victims are normally quite tall, thin, and long-limbed. Lincoln remains the tallest president ever at 6’4”, and was incredibly tall for his time period.

  However, no testing of Lincoln’s remaining DNA samples has been conducted for Marfan. Detractors say his excellent cardiovascular health and vision give good evidence that he didn’t have it.
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  (#7) Spinocerebellar ataxia

  Some Lincoln diagnoses have been thoroughly debunked, and such is the case with Spinocerebellar Ataxia. Ataxia affects the body's ability to control its muscles, and can often lead to peculiar and awkward gaits and other motions. Spinocerebellar Ataxia can also cause problems with balance, speech, and eye movements. Type 5 Spinocerebellar Ataxia was once called "Lincoln’s Ataxia," but subsequent research has concluded that he did not have the disease.

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