brazilian stroke victim cannot stop helping others after developing pathological generosity because...

8/14/2019 Brazilian Stroke Victim Cannot Stop Helping Others After Developing Pathological Generosity Because of Changes i…

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Brazilian stroke victim cannot stop helpingothers after developing pathological generosity

because of changes in the brain

Man, 49, developed 'excessive and persistent generosity' according to

researchers

Lost control of his finances and couldn't return to his job in a large corporation

following change in behavior

Stroke victim said it was time to 'enjoy life' and 'be in high spirits '

By Jennifer Smith

PUBLISHED: 16:26 GMT, 7 September 2013 | UPDATED: 16:46 GMT, 7 September 2013

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The man's fr ontal lobe showed signs of low blood flow, although t he stroke occurr ed in a

subcort ical region of t he brain which is linked to higher level thinking



A man in Brazlil developed what doctors have called pathological generosity, after a stroke damaged partsof his brain causing his behaviour to change.

The 49-year-old began to give away money, food and drinks excessively after a stroke disrupted the part of his brain related to higher thinking and decision making.

Researchers at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro concluded the man was left with 'excessive andpersistent generosity' by the stroke which was brought on by bleeding in his brain.

Doctors were able to determine the stroke occurred in a subcortical region of Mr A's brain which controlshigher level thinking, and therefore could have affected areas associated with regulating normal behavior.

It was caused by bleeding in the brain, a side effect of the man's high blood pressure.

But, experts say knowing where the stroke occurred does not predict changes in behavior or personality,as the complexity of networks means an area not necessarily next to the injury can be affected.

Dr Larry Goldstein, a neurologist and director of the Stroke Centre at Duke University said: 'Although theobservation of personality change is not that unusual, this particular one is apparently novel.'

The doctor told the Huffington Post: 'Stroke can cause a whole variety of neuropsychological andbehavioral changes', adding that brain damage caused by low oxygen supply can lead to emotionalchanges with depression being the most common.

Stroke has also been known to cause uncontrollable laughing or crying or neglect syndrome, in whichpeople don't recognize one side of their visual field.

Doctors at the University in Rio de Janeiro found Mr A's case particularly interesting as it represented theopposite attitude to conditions which result from stroke more commonly, such as hoarding and sociopathy.

Studies have indicated in the past that certain brain structures, including the region which registers reward,have been involved in instances of generosity like donating anonymously donating to charity.

The researchers said Mr A's condition could shed light on the relationship between 'altruism and egoism'

which are crucial to decision making.

According to the man's w ife he st art ed giving away money and food excess ively and



became unable to control his finances

According to his wife, the man spent his money on food and drink for children in the street, and wasincapable of resuming his managerial job within a large corporation after the stroke.

When asked by researchers if he wanted to return to work, he reportedly said he had worked enough andthat it was time to 'enjoy life which is too short.'

Mr A told doctors he was aware of changes in his behavior and claimed he 'saw death from close up' and

wanted to 'be in high spirits' from then onwards.

Other streaks of generous behavior have been linked to people with mania, dementia and Parkinson'sdisease when treated, but Mr A showed no symptoms of such conditions when psychologically evaluated.

He reported being depressed, forgetful and unable to focus, and showed symptoms usually associated withdamage in the frontal lobe of the brain such as lack of persistence or impaired judgement.

A CT scan showed low blood flow in several brain regions, including areas in the frontal lobe.

These regions, although far from the bleed focus, are connected with it by neural pathways, which mayhave been the interrupted the interplay of neural systems that contribute to personality traits, researcherssay.

Mr. A was put on medication to treat his depression and said he felt cured two years later, but hisgenerosity was unchanged.

The full report was published on August 20 in the journal, Neurocase.

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Comments (26)

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maybe its not changes in the brain maybe he just made a choice and realised life isnt all about money...

- Jon , Dewsbury, United Kingdom, 08/9/2013 00:32

Click to rate Rating 181

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This is me without a stroke but being generous these days is seen as a weakness, which says alot about society and thedirection headed is not a good one...



- mc , syd, 08/9/2013 00:30


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Alternatively, his perspective on life changed after the stroke made him realise that you can't take anything with you once you'redead, and your existence is meaningless without kindness.

- AK , UK, United Kingdom, 08/9/2013 00:16


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This might sound like a good trait but I imagine it's torture for the wife at times.

- Bakes , Cov, United Kingdom, 07/9/2013 23:56


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Maybe he's the normal one and we're all pathologically ungenerous.

- saintlennon , Boston, United States, 07/9/2013 23:34


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Oh didnt realise genorosity was a disease??

- imjustsayin24 , liverpool, 07/9/2013 22:56


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So he basically became a socialist?

- the philosopher , staffordshire, United Kingdom, 07/9/2013 22:43


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There was an episode on House were a man was diagnosed with the same thing!!

- Youknowme , Brummingham, 07/9/2013 22:26


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Sadly, I'll bet he's getting a lot of FB friend requests.

- ramsay bolton , winterfell, 07/9/2013 22:14


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Wow! I think I saw this on House, didn't know it was real

- Sarah , Doha, 07/9/2013 21:39




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brazilian stroke victim cannot stop helping others after developing pathological generosity because...

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