Quick Answer: Syphilis likely contributed to the deaths or mental decline of many famous historical figures, including Al Capone and possibly King Henry VIII. Untreated, this STD can cause blindness, dementia, psychosis, and death over decades.
When Power and Shame Collided: The Case of Al Capone
Al Capone was once America’s most notorious gangster. But his downfall wasn’t just legal, it was neurological. By the time he died in 1947, his brain had been so ravaged by untreated syphilis that he reportedly had the mental function of a 12-year-old. Neurosyphilis, the final stage of infection, causes progressive brain damage. It doesn’t just affect memory, it can alter mood, cause paranoia, hallucinations, and total cognitive breakdown.
The tragedy? Capone could’ve been cured. Penicillin became available in the 1940s, but by the time he was treated, the damage was irreversible. His paranoia and violence toward the end of his life weren’t just the remnants of a criminal past, they were textbook signs of advanced neurosyphilis.
Today, we know that untreated syphilis moves through stages. What starts as a small painless sore can become a full-body rash, then disappear for years. But late-stage syphilis doesn’t vanish, it comes back as neurological chaos, sometimes decades later. This silent timeline destroyed Capone’s mind long after his empire had crumbled.
The “Madness” of King Henry VIII: Was It Syphilis?
King Henry VIII of England is remembered for his six wives, erratic behavior, and a brutal reign that seemed to spiral out of control. Some historians and doctors have speculated for years: was syphilis part of the picture?
Symptoms from historical records include leg ulcers, mood swings, cognitive decline, and infertility, all potential signs of chronic or latent syphilis. While no direct medical records confirm it, syphilis was widespread in Europe during Henry’s reign, and rumors about the king’s “hidden illness” circulated even in his time.
Modern analyses also consider other conditions, like type II diabetes or McLeod syndrome, but the theory of syphilis has stuck because it aligns so well with his symptoms and political behavior. Whether or not he had it, the speculation highlights a key issue: STDs were so stigmatized, even in royalty, that they were never openly discussed or recorded.
Today, someone showing similar symptoms could be easily tested with a simple blood test. You can even order a discreet at-home syphilis test to avoid stigma altogether.
Napoleon, Nietzsche, and the Art of Denial
Friedrich Nietzsche, the brilliant philosopher whose ideas reshaped modern thought, died in an asylum in 1900 after nearly a decade of mental collapse. While some argue he suffered from a brain tumor or bipolar disorder, many believe advanced syphilis was the cause. His erratic letters, sudden bursts of mania, and deteriorating health are consistent with the late neurosyphilis stage.
Similarly, rumors about Napoleon Bonaparte having syphilis have floated for centuries. Though his autopsy cited stomach cancer, documents from his doctors mention mercury treatments, commonly used to treat syphilis at the time. Mercury was toxic, often making patients worse. But in an era without antibiotics, it was one of the only options.
What connects all these men isn’t just fame. It’s secrecy, shame, and a lack of effective treatment. STDs in history were a death sentence, and a reputational risk. That silence cost lives and legacies alike.
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How Syphilis Destroys the Body, And Why It Took Centuries to Understand
Syphilis doesn’t kill quickly. It creeps. That’s part of what made it so dangerous, especially before modern medicine. In its early stages, syphilis may cause a single painless sore or a faint rash on the palms and soles, both easy to miss or dismiss. Left untreated, it enters a long latent stage with no visible symptoms at all.
But that calm is deceptive. During this quiet period, Treponema pallidum, the bacteria behind syphilis, spreads to the brain, spine, and organs. Years or even decades later, it can come roaring back with catastrophic effects: personality changes, coordination loss, blindness, heart disease, and dementia-like decline.
For people like Capone and Nietzsche, this final phase was mistaken for mental illness or punishment. In reality, it was an untreated infection devouring the nervous system.
| Stage | Timeline | Symptoms | Contagious? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary | 10–90 days after exposure | Painless sore (chancre) at infection site | Yes |
| Secondary | 2–10 weeks after sore | Rash, fever, swollen glands, mucous patches | Yes |
| Latent | Months to decades | No visible symptoms | No (but bacteria still present) |
| Tertiary (Late) | 5–30 years after exposure | Brain damage, blindness, organ failure, psychosis | No |
Figure 1. Timeline of untreated syphilis stages, based on CDC and WHO data.
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The Stigma That Silenced Treatment
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, few things carried more shame than an STD diagnosis. Especially for men in power, admitting to a “venereal disease” was unthinkable. Many people went to con artists for secret treatments, used dangerous chemicals like mercury, or ignored their symptoms until it was too late.
The stigma still echoes today. People delay testing because they fear judgment or exposure. But modern testing is private, fast, and widely accessible. You don’t need a doctor’s visit to find out the truth. A discreet at-home STD test can give you results in minutes, no labs, no shame.
Historical silence around STDs didn’t just hurt reputations. It cost lives. Even as we look back at these icons of history, the message is urgent: untreated STDs are still here, still dangerous, and still curable, if caught early.
What Neurosyphilis Looks Like Today
Neurosyphilis isn’t just a problem from the past. It still happens, especially when people go untreated for months or years. Today, we’re seeing a quiet rise in late-stage syphilis, particularly among people who never had symptoms or assumed their rashes or ulcers were something else.
Symptoms can include:
- Severe headaches
- Personality changes
- Coordination problems
- Memory loss or confusion
- Vision or hearing loss
Some people develop symptoms that mimic Alzheimer’s or schizophrenia. Others go blind or lose motor control. But here's the truth: if caught early, even in the latent stage, syphilis is 100% curable with antibiotics.
But if you wait too long, the damage may be permanent. That’s why doctors recommend testing for syphilis if you’ve had unprotected sex, new partners, or any strange rash or sore that went unexplained.
Need answers without the wait or stigma? Try our combo STD test kit from the privacy of your home. One kit, multiple answers.
Two Lives, One Infection: A Tale of Timing
Let’s fast forward to now. Two men, same city, same risk. One got tested. One waited.
Jared, 34, noticed a small painless bump after a weekend fling. It didn’t hurt, so he brushed it off. Two weeks later, it vanished. Months passed, then came the brain fog, the trouble focusing, the irritability. By the time he got tested, the damage was done. His test confirmed neurosyphilis. Treatment helped, but the memory lapses stuck around.
Luis, 29, had a similar experience, but he acted sooner. After spotting a sore on his inner thigh, he Googled “STD bump or pimple” at 2AM. That led him to order an at-home syphilis test. The positive result prompted a clinic visit and treatment within a week. Today, he’s healthy, and more vigilant than ever.
One infection. Two outcomes. The difference? Action. In the age of antibiotics and rapid testing, timing is everything. And unlike the kings and criminals of the past, you have options.
STD Testing Then vs Now: A Shocking Difference
There weren't many tests for syphilis in the 1800s. The diagnosis was based only on symptoms, which were often misread or misjudged. The treatments were simple and deadly. After taking mercury pills, getting arsenic shots, and having "fumigations," patients got worse.
Today, testing is precise, safe, and fast. A simple blood drop or swab can detect syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and more. You can test at home without telling a soul. Kits like the Combo STD Home Test Kit check for multiple infections at once, results in minutes.
| Era | Testing Method | Accuracy | Privacy | Risks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1800s–1900s | Symptom-based or mercury reaction tests | Low | None | Delayed treatment, toxic therapies |
| Today | Rapid antibody tests, NAAT, blood tests | High (95–99%) | High (at-home options available) | Minimal if tested early |
Figure 2. Evolution of STD testing: from guesswork to lab-verified accuracy.
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Can Syphilis Still Kill You?
Absolutely. If ignored, syphilis can still cause heart failure, brain infection, stroke, and death. According to the CDC, syphilis is on the rise again in the U.S., especially among men who have sex with men and those with limited access to healthcare.
While most people today don’t reach the deadly tertiary stage, it happens, especially when symptoms are overlooked or misdiagnosed. Skin rashes are written off as allergies. Fatigue is blamed on stress. But the infection keeps growing in the background, unnoticed until it's too late.
If you're asking questions like “what STD causes memory loss?” or “can syphilis make you insane?”, you're not alone. These are real search terms, and they reflect a deep, valid fear. But they’re also a starting point. The earlier you test, the more control you regain.
Even if it’s been months, or years, since your last encounter, it’s not too late. Get tested today. Take back the narrative.
“I Thought It Was Stress”: When Syphilis Looks Like Everything Else
Mikael, 41, didn’t think much of it when his hands started trembling. He chalked it up to burnout. The headaches? Probably too much caffeine. The irritability? Work. When he began forgetting names and mixing up words, his partner thought it might be early-onset dementia. Two doctors, three therapists, and months of worry later, the real diagnosis came back: neurosyphilis.
“I was floored,” he said. “I had no idea an STD could do this to your brain.”
But it can, and it does. Late-stage syphilis mimics other conditions: anxiety, depression, Alzheimer’s, even Parkinson’s. That’s why it often flies under the radar. People get treated for everything but the thing that’s actually causing the problem. And while Mikael responded to antibiotics, some of the neurological effects lingered.
Stories like his aren’t rare. They’re just rarely told. The shame around STDs still runs deep, even though testing has never been easier or more private. When people delay getting tested because of fear, they pay in time, in health, and sometimes in memory. It doesn’t have to be that way.
If something feels off and you’ve had sexual contact, even months or years ago, don’t overthink it. Grab a discreet at-home test kit and get clear. Worst case? Peace of mind. Best case? You catch something early enough to stop it in its tracks.
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Blind Spots: The STD That Can Literally Take Your Sight
We talk a lot about syphilis and the brain, but there’s another lesser-known risk: blindness. Yes, syphilis can damage the optic nerve, sometimes suddenly, and without warning. This condition is called ocular syphilis, and it’s considered a medical emergency. In fact, in the past decade, there’s been a quiet uptick in cases of syphilitic eye disease, especially in people who didn’t know they were infected.
Jordan, 37, woke up one morning with blurry vision in his right eye. No pain, just haze. He thought maybe he scratched his cornea or slept weird. An optometrist ruled out damage, and a referral to a neurologist followed. But it was a young infectious disease resident who finally asked the right question: “Have you ever been tested for syphilis?”
Turns out, Jordan had no idea he was infected. A home test wasn’t even on his radar. His exposure had happened over a year earlier. “I didn’t have any sores, no rash, nothing,” he said. “Just one hookup. I figured I was fine.”
This is what makes syphilis so dangerous, and so stealthy. It’s not about how many partners you’ve had or what kind of sex you had. It’s about whether you’ve tested. Because syphilis doesn’t care about stereotypes. It just spreads silently.
Back in the 15th century, syphilis swept across Europe so fast that it earned names like “the French disease” or “the Great Pox.” People were dying, going mad, or losing their noses, quite literally. In some cities, entire brothels were shuttered by order of the crown. But even then, shame kept people quiet, and silence let the disease thrive.
Today, you have something those people didn’t: control. With a syphilis home test kit, you don’t need to wait for a doctor, a lab, or someone to believe you. You can test on your terms, early, discreetly, and with zero shame.
Your health isn’t a scandal. It’s your story to write. And knowing your status isn’t just about protecting yourself, it’s about protecting the people you care about, too. Don't let history repeat itself. You deserve clarity, not guesswork.
FAQs
1. Can syphilis actually make someone go insane?
It sounds like a Victorian horror story, but yes , if left untreated, syphilis can reach the brain and cause something called neurosyphilis. That can lead to memory loss, confusion, mood swings, and yes, psychosis. Think of it like an infection hijacking the nervous system. We’ve seen it in historical figures, and we still see it in modern ERs when people miss the early signs.
2. Did Al Capone really lose his mind because of an STD?
He did. By the time he died, Capone's brain had deteriorated so badly from neurosyphilis that doctors said he had the mental capacity of a child. He didn’t get treated in time , and that’s the takeaway here. One of the most powerful men in America was undone by an infection he could’ve cured with antibiotics if he’d acted earlier.
3. I had a weird rash months ago. Could that have been syphilis?
It’s possible. Syphilis rashes can be sneaky , often not itchy, and they show up in odd spots like your palms or the soles of your feet. The problem is, they disappear on their own, so people brush it off. If you had a rash and now you’re feeling off, don’t play detective. Get tested.
4. Can I get syphilis even if I used a condom?
Unfortunately, yes. Condoms reduce the risk, but they don’t eliminate it , especially if sores are on areas the condom doesn’t cover. Syphilis spreads through skin-to-skin contact, not just fluids. Oral sex counts, too. No shame, just facts.
5. Does syphilis still kill people today?
It can. While most people catch it early and treat it, cases of late-stage syphilis still show up , especially among people who don't have access to regular healthcare or don’t know they’re infected. It doesn’t have to be fatal, but if ignored long enough, it absolutely can be.
6. What does syphilis feel like in the beginning?
Honestly? Like nothing. That’s the trap. The first sign is usually a painless sore , often in a place you might not see or feel (like inside the mouth or genitals). Then maybe a rash, maybe some flu-ish vibes. Or… maybe nothing. That’s why regular testing matters even if you feel fine.
7. Can women get neurosyphilis, or is it just a guy thing?
Anyone with syphilis can develop neurosyphilis , it doesn’t discriminate. The symptoms are the same across genders, though they’re sometimes missed or misdiagnosed in women. The bacteria don’t care who you are , just whether you’re untreated.
8. How long can syphilis stay hidden in your body?
Years. Even decades. It can quietly do its thing while you feel totally normal. That’s what makes it so dangerous. You might think you dodged a bullet when symptoms vanish, but the infection may just be lurking, waiting to hit your nervous system later. Scary? Yes. Preventable? Also yes.
9. Is an at-home syphilis test actually accurate?
Yes , if you use it correctly and at the right time. Most rapid tests are around 95–98% accurate after the window period (typically 3–6 weeks after exposure). Just be sure to follow instructions, and if you're ever unsure, retest or confirm at a clinic. It's better to be a little paranoid than a lot infected.
10. What if I’m scared to get tested?
That’s normal. Seriously , most people feel that way. It’s vulnerable, it’s intimate, and it brings up a lot of what-ifs. But here’s the thing: knowing is power. Testing doesn’t make you dirty or reckless. It makes you responsible and informed. And if you test at home, you can do it privately , no awkward waiting rooms, no side-eye. Just you and the truth.
You Deserve Answers, Not Assumptions
History is filled with powerful people brought low not just by disease, but by silence, shame, and delay. From kings to criminals, what might have been prevented with a simple test is a lesson we’re still learning today.
You don’t need to wonder what that rash meant or wait until symptoms spiral. With one discreet home test kit, you can know in minutes, privately, safely, and without judgment.
Don’t wait and wonder. Get answers now and take back control.
How We Sourced This Article: We combined current guidance from leading medical organizations with peer-reviewed research and lived-experience reporting to make this guide practical, compassionate, and accurate.
Sources
2. WHO – Sexually Transmitted Infections Overview
3. History.com – Al Capone’s Neurosyphilis Decline
4. Planned Parenthood – Syphilis Facts
7. Neurosyphilis – StatPearls/NIH
8. Syphilis – STI Treatment Guidelines (CDC)
9. An Updated Review of Recent Advances in Neurosyphilis – Frontiers in Medicine
10. Clinical and Laboratory Features of Neurosyphilis: A Single‑center Study – ScienceDirect
11. Syphilis – Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
12. About Congenital Syphilis – CDC
About the Author
Dr. F. David, MD is a board-certified infectious disease specialist focused on STI prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. He blends clinical precision with a no-nonsense, sex-positive approach and is committed to expanding access for readers in both urban and off-grid settings.
Reviewed by: Nora Kaplan, RN, MPH | Last medically reviewed: November 2025
This article is for informational purposes and does not replace medical advice.
