BIOMAT Database Logo BIOMAT Database Logo

Walther Birkmayer, Co-describer of L-Dopa, and his Nazi connections: victim or perpetrator? 2014

Herwig Czech, and Lawrence A Zeidman
a Recipient of an APART-fellowship of the Austrian Academy of Sciences.

Walther Birkmayer, an Austrian neurologist, codiscovered the efficacy of levodopa therapy for Parkinsonism in 1961. However, little has been published regarding Birkmayer's ties to National Socialism. Through documentary review, we have determined that he was an early illegal member of the SS and the Nazi party, taking part in the "de-Jewification" of the Vienna University Clinic of Psychiatry and Neurology. He also was a leader in the Nazi racial policy office and was praised for his dedication and fanaticism despite being forced to later resign from the SS. He sought support from leading Viennese Nazis, and was able to maintain his professional status for the war's remainder. Postwar, he succeeded at reintegration personally and professionally into Austrian society, all but erasing any obvious ties to his Nazi past. His story reflects ethical transgressions regarding professional and personal behavior in response to a tyrannical regime and provides lessons for today's neuroscientists.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007980 Levodopa The naturally occurring form of DIHYDROXYPHENYLALANINE and the immediate precursor of DOPAMINE. Unlike dopamine itself, it can be taken orally and crosses the blood-brain barrier. It is rapidly taken up by dopaminergic neurons and converted to DOPAMINE. It is used for the treatment of PARKINSONIAN DISORDERS and is usually given with agents that inhibit its conversion to dopamine outside of the central nervous system. L-Dopa,3-Hydroxy-L-tyrosine,Dopaflex,Dopar,L-3,4-Dihydroxyphenylalanine,Larodopa,Levopa,3 Hydroxy L tyrosine,L 3,4 Dihydroxyphenylalanine,L Dopa
D009462 Neurology A medical specialty concerned with the study of the structures, functions, and diseases of the nervous system.
D009613 Nobel Prize Any of six international prizes awarded annually for outstanding work in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature, economics and the promotion of peace. Prize, Nobel
D010600 Pharmacology The study of the origin, nature, properties, and actions of drugs and their effects on living organisms. Pharmacologies
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001317 Austria A country located in Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia. The capital is Vienna.
D047789 World War II Global conflict involving countries of Europe, Africa, Asia, and North America that occurred between 1939 and 1945. World War, 1939-1945,2nd World War,Second World War,1939-1945 World War,Second World Wars,War, Second World,Wars, 2nd World,Wars, Second World,World War, 1939 1945,World War, 2nd,World War, Second,World Wars, Second
D049673 History, 20th Century Time period from 1901 through 2000 of the common era. 20th Century History,20th Cent. History (Medicine),20th Cent. History of Medicine,20th Cent. Medicine,Historical Events, 20th Century,History of Medicine, 20th Cent.,History, Twentieth Century,Medical History, 20th Cent.,Medicine, 20th Cent.,20th Cent. Histories (Medicine),20th Century Histories,Cent. Histories, 20th (Medicine),Cent. History, 20th (Medicine),Century Histories, 20th,Century Histories, Twentieth,Century History, 20th,Century History, Twentieth,Histories, 20th Cent. (Medicine),Histories, 20th Century,Histories, Twentieth Century,History, 20th Cent. (Medicine),Twentieth Century Histories,Twentieth Century History
D020734 Parkinsonian Disorders A group of disorders which feature impaired motor control characterized by bradykinesia, MUSCLE RIGIDITY; TREMOR; and postural instability. Parkinsonian diseases are generally divided into primary parkinsonism (see PARKINSON DISEASE), secondary parkinsonism (see PARKINSON DISEASE, SECONDARY) and inherited forms. These conditions are associated with dysfunction of dopaminergic or closely related motor integration neuronal pathways in the BASAL GANGLIA. Autosomal Recessive Juvenile Parkinsonism,Familial Juvenile Parkinsonism,Parkinsonian Syndrome,Parkinsonism,Parkinsonism, Experimental,Parkinsonism, Juvenile,Ramsay Hunt Paralysis Syndrome,Autosomal Dominant Juvenile Parkinson Disease,Autosomal Dominant Juvenile Parkinsonism,Autosomal Dominant Parkinsonism,Autosomal Recessive Juvenile Parkinson Disease,Autosomal Recessive Parkinsonism,Chromosome 6-Linked Autosomal Recessive Parkinsonism,Experimental Parkinson Disease,Experimental Parkinsonism,Experimental Parkinsonism, MPTP-Induced,Familial Parkinson Disease, Autosomal Recessive,Juvenile Parkinson Disease,Juvenile Parkinson Disease, Autosomal Dominant,Juvenile Parkinson Disease, Autosomal Recessive,Juvenile Parkinsonism, Autosomal Dominant,Juvenile Parkinsonism, Autosomal Recessive,MPTP-Induced Experimental Parkinsonism,Parkinson Disease 2,Parkinson Disease 2, Autosomal Recessive Juvenile,Parkinson Disease Autosomal Recessive, Early Onset,Parkinson Disease, Autosomal Dominant. Juvenile,Parkinson Disease, Experimental,Parkinson Disease, Familial, Autosomal Recessive,Parkinson Disease, Juvenile,Parkinson Disease, Juvenile, Autosomal Dominant,Parkinson Disease, Juvenile, Autosomal Recessive,Parkinsonian Diseases,Parkinsonian Syndromes,Parkinsonism, Early Onset, with Diurnal Fluctuation,Parkinsonism, Early-Onset, With Diurnal Fluctuation,Parkinsonism, Juvenile, Autosomal Dominant,Parkinsonism, Juvenile, Autosomal Recessive,Chromosome 6 Linked Autosomal Recessive Parkinsonism,Diseases, Experimental Parkinson,Dominant Parkinsonism, Autosomal,Experimental Parkinson Diseases,Experimental Parkinsonism, MPTP Induced,Experimental Parkinsonisms,Juvenile Parkinsonism,Juvenile Parkinsonism, Familial,Juvenile Parkinsonisms,MPTP Induced Experimental Parkinsonism,Parkinson Diseases, Experimental,Parkinsonism, Autosomal Dominant,Parkinsonism, Autosomal Recessive,Parkinsonism, Familial Juvenile,Parkinsonism, MPTP-Induced Experimental,Parkinsonisms, Experimental,Parkinsonisms, Juvenile,Recessive Parkinsonism, Autosomal
D028683 National Socialism The doctrines and policies of the Nazis or the National Social German Workers party, which ruled Germany under Adolf Hitler from 1933-1945. These doctrines and policies included racist nationalism, expansionism, and state control of the economy. (from Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. and American Heritage College Dictionary, 3d ed.) Nazis,Nazism,Nazi,Socialism, National

Related Publications

Herwig Czech, and Lawrence A Zeidman
Walther Birkmayer--a tribute on his 80th birthday.
January 1990, Journal of neural transmission. General section,
Herwig Czech, and Lawrence A Zeidman
Walther Birkmayer--a tribute on his 80th birthday.
January 1990, Journal of neural transmission. Parkinson's disease and dementia section,
Herwig Czech, and Lawrence A Zeidman
[L-Dopa discoverer Birkmayer "unmasks" acupunture].
January 1976, Der Zahnarzt; Colloquium med. dent,
Herwig Czech, and Lawrence A Zeidman
[Doping--victim or perpetrator?].
February 1982, Die Medizinische Welt,
Herwig Czech, and Lawrence A Zeidman
Epilepsy and the gut: Perpetrator or victim?
September 2022, World journal of gastrointestinal pathophysiology,
Herwig Czech, and Lawrence A Zeidman
Male infertility and genital chlamydial infection: victim or perpetrator?
August 2003, Andrologia,
Herwig Czech, and Lawrence A Zeidman
[Perpetrator or victim? The orthodontist Gustav Korkhaus (1895-1978) and his actual role in the Third Reich].
September 2021, Journal of orofacial orthopedics = Fortschritte der Kieferorthopadie : Organ/official journal Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Kieferorthopadie,
Herwig Czech, and Lawrence A Zeidman
Male rape victim and perpetrator blaming.
June 2010, Journal of interpersonal violence,
Herwig Czech, and Lawrence A Zeidman
Pediatric chronic pain and exposure to bullying as perpetrator or victim.
June 2024, Pain,
Herwig Czech, and Lawrence A Zeidman
The lungs in acute mountain sickness: victim, perpetrator, or both?
October 2014, The American journal of medicine,
Copied contents to your clipboard!