Beethoven boozed himself to death
Analysis of Beethoven's hair has revealed that the composer is likely to have drank himself to death.
Beethoven probably drank himself to death.
A detailed analysis of the genius German composer's hair discovered that he had a genetically high risk of liver disease and was infected with Hepatitis B.
Cambridge University scientists believe that these two factors, combined with his love of wine, may have proved fatal for the 'Moonlight Sonata' composer - who died aged 56 almost 200 years ago.
PhD student Tristan Begg said: "We can surmise from Beethoven's 'conversation books', which he used during the last decade of his life, that his alcohol consumption was very regular, although it is difficult to estimate the volumes being consumed.
"While most of his contemporaries claim his consumption was moderate by early 19th century Viennese standards, there is not complete agreement among these sources, and this still likely amounted to quantities of alcohol known today to be harmful to the liver.
"If his alcohol consumption was sufficiently heavy over a long period of time, the interaction with his genetic risk factors presents one possible explanation for his liver cirrhosis."
