Beethoven was a classical and romantic composer, but his body was full of heavy metal
Virtuosic pianist and composer Beethoven suffered from several debilitating ailments. A new study suggests lead poisoning may be at least partly to blame.
![Beethoven was a classical and romantic composer, but his body was full of heavy metal](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3891x2189+0+1184/resize/1400/quality/100/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F97%2Fc2%2F9bccb9564b368646b2b975640e37%2Fhalm-bermann-no-2.jpg)
!["Beethoven" (1936). A new study suggests the German composer and pianist may have suffered from lead poisoning.](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5090x3818+0+0/resize/5090x3818!/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc9%2Ffe%2F3d2d208e4d57844018ec24a6c598%2Fgettyimages-1160951840.jpg)
Virtuosic pianist and composer Beethoven suffered from several debilitating ailments. A new study suggests lead poisoning may be at least partly to blame.
(Image credit: The Print Collector)