Nevertheless, the age of onset was earlier than usually seen in Alzheimer's disease, and Ravel did not experience memory or visuospatial troubles. Among the diagnostic possibilities, Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of progressive cerebral degeneration and, therefore, it is the most frequent diagnosis of Ravel's disease as well 5 5. Shadows and darkness in the brain of a genius: aspects of the neuropsychological literature about the final illness of Maurice Ravel (1875-1937). Neurological disorders in famous artists. The Terminal Illness and Last Compositions of Maurice Ravel. Interestingly, Ravel's father also presented with a cognitive deterioration in his last years of life, which may raise the question whether Ravel's neurological disease had a hereditary component 1 1. The slow evolution of the condition also suggests a progressive degenerative disease. The Brazilian neuropathologist, Walter Edgar Maffei, was an eyewitness to Ravel's deterioration and, during his whole life in Brazil, Maffei confirmed that Ravel had become a demented person. Communication présentée à la In: Scéance de la Société Française d'Histoire de la Médecine 1991 Feb 23 Paris, France. The “Ravel issue” and possible implications. However, there is consensus on the diagnosis of dementia 3 3. What was the nature of the brain disease that cause Ravel's decline? The exact cause remains speculative as an autopsy was not performed. ![]() In November 1933, he made his last public appearance, performing the Boléro. In the words of the French writer Colette, “he did not try anymore to speak, and yet, sitting between us, he gave the impression of someone who is at risk of disintegrating" 2 2. Due to apraxia, Ravel lost the ability to swim, having to be brought in from the sea by his friends. While on holiday at Saint Jean de Luz, Ravel wanted to show Marie Gaudin how to skim a pebble on the sea but instead he struck her on the face. It's over, I can no longer write my music” 2 2. In 1933, he confided to one of his friends: “I will never write my Jeanne d'Arc this opera is here, in my head, I hear it, but I will never write it. ![]() Difficulties in writing increased and he was no longer capable of writing his own music. In 1932, Ravel was victim of a car accident in Paris and, shortly after, his health clearly deteriorated. Alajouanine first presented Ravel's case at a congress of Neurology in 1938 1 1. Besides the amnesia impairment, the French neurologist Théophile Alajouanine described in Ravel a diffuse impairment of oral and written language associated with an ideomotor apraxia. ![]() On a European concert tour, Marguerite Long, who was accompanying Ravel, observed that “the maestro lost his bags, his watch, both my and his train tickets he hid his letters and even mine in his pockets" 1 1. Jourdain-Morhange, “at the beginning of his illness, Ravel flew into a passion when he could not find the word he sought". The first symptoms became evident for the first time in 1927, when friends reported Ravel had difficulties writing and speaking. Maurice Ravel (1872-1937), the composer of the famous Boléro.
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