Neurosyphilis

Although there was once believed to be a causative relationship between syphilis and artistic genius, I would hope that the vast majority of modern artists and writers are reasonable enough to avoid becoming infected just on the off chance that neurosyphilis dementia might improve the quality of their work.

The progression of syphilis to neurosyphilis usually takes 30 to 40 years, but in a "coinfected person" it can occur in six to nine months.

Even more recently, The Times Literary Supplement, sifting through Hardy’s ashes, ran a story suggesting that his first wife may have suffered from quaternary neurosyphilis — contracted from him.