5 historical geniuses who had autism

There are quite a few historical figures in the past who not only fought autism bravely, but also created an identity of their own and in fact set examples for others to follow. Here are five historical geniuses who fought autism and how!

5 historical geniuses who had autism

While many people are under the impression that autism is a lifelong condition and could leave a person mentally impaired for life, history proves otherwise.

There are quite a few historical figures who not only fought autism bravely, but also created an identity of their own and in fact set examples for others to follow.

And what better day to celebrate their achievements than World Autism Day (April 1). Here are five historical geniuses who fought autism and how!

Albert Einstein

Yes, we can see your jaw drop with surprise, but it’s true! Albert Einstein had Asperger’s Syndrome (AS), which is a kind of autism.

According to Cambridge scientist and autism expert Simon Baren Cohen as a child, Einstein was also a loner, and repeated sentences obsessively until he was seven years old, which are characteristic traits of a person with AS.

Charles Darwin

While there were numerous studies that said that Charles Darwin, the brain behind the theory of evolution, had Autism, Prof Michael Fitzgerald, an Autism expert from Dublin's Trinty College, confirmed that Darwin had Asperger’s syndrome.

Prof Fitzgerald said: "It is suggested that the same genes that produce autism and Asperger's syndrome are also responsible for great creativity and originality. "Asperger's syndrome gave Darwin the capacity to hyperfocus, the extra capacity for persistence, the enormous ability to see detail that other people missed, the endless energy for a lifetime dedication to a narrow task, and the independence of mind so critical to original research," he mentioned at the annual meeting of the Royal College of Psychiatrists' Faculty of Academic Psychiatry.

Isaac Newton

Researchers of the Cambridge University say that Isaac Newton, the genius behind the laws of motion and gravity, displayed the classic symptoms of autism.

He would always be quite, hardly spoke and was engrossed in his work that he would often miss his meals. He had a very short-temper and would often have erratic behavioral spurts. There are also stories of how he would give lectures to empty halls.

Lewiss Caroll

Famous English writer Lewis Caroll, who gave us the classic book Alice’s adventures in wonder land, also had Asperger’s syndrome say researchers from the Dublin's Trinity College after comparing the behaviour patients with Asperger's syndrome.

"Asperger's syndrome provides a plus - it makes people more creative. People with it are generally hyper-focused, very persistent workaholics who tend to see things from detail to global rather than looking at the bigger picture first and then working backwards, as most people do,” says professor Prof Fitzgerald in a BBC report.

Mozart

The musical genius also suffered from Autism and had symptoms of both Tourette’s syndrome and Asperger’s syndrome. He used to be obsessed with inanimate objects and had erratic mood swings, which are typically associated with people with autism.

Studies also say that he had a sensitive hearing and would get extremely irritated around loud sounds so much that it would make him feel sick. He would never be able to carry intellectual conversations, had frequent mood changes and was very lethargic.

Also read: 5 early signs of autism in toddlers

Do you also know of people with autism who are geniuses in their own fields?

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