Science

Stress…or Poison? Scientists Investigate True Cause of Lenin’s Death

(The Blaze/AP) — A doctor says stress, family medical history or possibly even poison led to the death of Vladimir Lenin, debunking a popular theory that a sexually-transmitted disease debilitated the former Soviet Union leader.

UCLA neurologist Dr. Harry Vinters and Russian historian Lev Lurie reviewed Lenin‘s records for an annual University of Maryland School of Medicine conference that opens Friday on famous people’s deaths.

The conference is held yearly at the school, where researchers in the past have re-examined the diagnoses of figures including King Tut, Christopher Columbus, Simon Bolivar and Abraham Lincoln.

Scientists Investigate Stress and Poison as Causes for Lenins Death Before University of Maryland Conference

(Photo: Houston Communist Party)

The 53-year-old Soviet leader suffered several strokes before dying in 1924 and what caused them isn’t clear.

An autopsy found blood vessels in his brain were extremely hardened, results that have been difficult to understand, said Dr. Philip Mackowiak, who organizes the yearly event.

“Number one, he’s so young and number two, he has none of the important risk factors,” Mackowiak said.

Lenin didn’t smoke — he never let smokers near him. He also didn’t have diabetes, wasn‘t overweight and the autopsy didn’t find any evidence of high blood pressure, Mackowiak said.

There was “considerable suspicion” among Russians at the time of Lenin’s death that syphilis was to blame, Mackowiak said.

Scientists Investigate Stress and Poison as Causes for Lenins Death Before University of Maryland Conference

Lenin and Stalin (Photo: AP)

However, family history appears to have worked more against Lenin, Vinters said.

Lenin was treated for syphilis using the primitive medications available at the time, and while the sexually transmitted disease can cause strokes, there is no evidence from his symptoms or the autopsy that was the case with Lenin, Vinters said.

The Soviet leader’s father also died at 54 and both may have been predisposed to hardening of the arteries. Stress also is a risk factor for strokes, and there’s no question the communist revolutionary was under plenty of that, the neurologist said.

“People were always trying to assassinate him, for example.” Vinters said.

Lurie, a St. Petersburg-based expert in Russian history and politics who also planned to speak at the conference, said that while Lenin had several strokes, he believes Stalin may finished him off with poison, a theory that Vinters said is a possibility.

Lenin’s health had been growing worse over time. In 1921, he forgot the words of a major speech and he had to learn to speak again and write with his left hand after one stroke. A major stroke later left him paralyzed on one side and unable to speak.

Scientists Investigate Stress and Poison as Causes for Lenins Death Before University of Maryland Conference

Photo: AP

However, Lurie said Lenin had recovered enough in early 1924 that he celebrated the new year and went hunting. Lenin, who supported Josef Stalin’s rise to power, may have realized he made a mistake and began aligning himself with Leon Trotsky, which caused Stalin to poison Lenin, the historian said.

Poisoning, in fact, eventually became one of Stalin’s favorite methods of dispose of enemies, Lurie said.

“The funny thing is that the brain of Lenin still is preserved in Moscow, so we can investigate,” Lurie said.

Lenin’s embalmed body also still lies on public display in a Red Square mausoleum almost 20 years after the collapse of the communist state he helped bring to life.

Vinters, who reviewed autopsy records and the leader’s clinical history, said toxicology tests that might have revealed poisoning were not conducted during the autopsy. Reports from the time also show Lenin was active and talking a few hours before his death.

“And then he experienced a series of really, really bad convulsions which is quite unusual for someone who has a stroke,” Vinters said.

Comments (74)

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  • G-WHIZ
    Posted on May 6, 2012 at 10:38am

    Just like Just like our commie/democrats who always use sex-scandles to either kill an election, or to hide other unconstitutional goeings-on…a fake sex-scandle to hide the real truth of his murder. I do not like Lennin at all…but I see exact “simmilarities”, in all progressive tactics, then and NOW.

    Report Post »  
  • ShyMan
    Posted on May 6, 2012 at 10:34am

    Communism is such great fun

    Report Post » ShyMan  
    • lukerw
      Posted on May 6, 2012 at 2:13pm

      Anyone want to be… Obama’s Food Taster?

      Report Post » lukerw  
  • Stoic one
    Posted on May 6, 2012 at 10:29am

    this is done for the advancement of forensic science. the body and brain are still available. we can now determine all sorts of things that were going on in bodies of people that are now long dead.

    Report Post » Stoic one  
    • Leader1776
      Posted on May 6, 2012 at 12:49pm

      These are done to answer historical questions using advances in forensic science, and does nothing to in and of itself to ‘advance forensic science’. Pet projects of forensic scientists that only adds to tuition costs at major institution of ‘Higher Learning’.

      Report Post » Leader1776  
  • georgepatton
    Posted on May 6, 2012 at 9:57am

    Just glad he’s toast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Report Post »  
  • Sayre
    Posted on May 6, 2012 at 9:02am

    Lenin’s Grave is a Communist Plot!

    Report Post » Sayre  
  • lel2007
    Posted on May 6, 2012 at 9:02am

    So who’s PAYING FOR this scientific investigation? May we have a show of hands by those in favor of finding the answer to this life-long burning question?

    Report Post » lel2007  
  • deadend
    Posted on May 6, 2012 at 8:39am

    This has to be capitalist propaganda. Under communism everyone is happy and joyous. Comrads do not beleive this propaganda. But seriously folks better dead then red better yet all reds should be dead.

    Report Post »  
  • sbenard
    Posted on May 6, 2012 at 8:17am

    Whatever the cause of death, it couldn’t have happened to a nicer dictator!

    Report Post » sbenard  
    • Apple Bite
      Posted on May 6, 2012 at 9:03am

      You must mean that literally, compared to his replacement!

      Report Post » Apple Bite  
  • barber2
    Posted on May 6, 2012 at 8:14am

    I think he died of Communism.

    Report Post »  
  • Offensive Bias
    Posted on May 6, 2012 at 8:04am

    The only good communist is a dead one.

    Report Post »  
  • JediPatriot
    Posted on May 6, 2012 at 7:31am

    Conservative Christians that believe in freedom, and follow the Constitution or the United States of America did it. They poisoned him because they were afraid that he was going to change their minds with his amazing and truthful words. The did it because they were afraid that he was greater than them, he was more masculine and pretty……er….I mean more handsome than them. (<——–Sarcasm)
    This sounds like it's gearing up to be another attack on "Christian radicals". LOL! Or I could be mistaken, and all of this is just a fine Christmas day.
    Peace

    Report Post » JediPatriot  
    • t00nces2
      Posted on May 6, 2012 at 8:10am

      So, it looks like Stalin may be responsible for 23,000,001, now.

      Report Post »  
    • JediPatriot
      Posted on May 6, 2012 at 8:24am

      Eh?

      Report Post » JediPatriot  
    • rambosharley
      Posted on May 6, 2012 at 9:14am

      You know Stalin did it! Communist Revolutionaries will do anything to get power and to KEEP power. We have one in the White House right now! He’s gonna lie his A$$ off to stupid Americans just to stay in power.

      Report Post »  
    • Beckofile
      Posted on May 6, 2012 at 10:21am

      They will drug you with hopium and steal the chage from your pocket in the fiirst election. In the second election it will be lean forward and take it like a good sheep.

      Report Post » Beckofile  
    • Look4DBigPicture
      Posted on May 6, 2012 at 1:14pm

      @Beckofile…Good one, B … LMAO

      Report Post »  
  • nocommie
    Posted on May 6, 2012 at 6:54am

    This is nothing more than an attempt to cover up the fact that he was nothing more than another progressive pervert

    Report Post » nocommie  
  • Baddoggy
    Posted on May 6, 2012 at 5:53am

    God took him out…are ya seeing what’s going on here God? We need some help…

    Report Post » Baddoggy  
  • Kerstile
    Posted on May 6, 2012 at 5:49am

    The Russians continue to hone the art of poisoning to this day. Remember the Polonium-210 cocktail for Alexander Litvinenko? There was so much Po-210 in his cup of tea that the tea would not cool off! The word cruel does not suffice. Demonic is closer.

    Report Post » Kerstile  
  • AxelPhantom
    Posted on May 6, 2012 at 5:10am

    Mushrooms are a big part of the Russian diet. Maybe someone slipped in some bad ones and over time it produced the symptoms.

    Report Post »  
  • EP46
    Posted on May 6, 2012 at 4:57am

    maybe he died from obestiy ? Only about 15 million Russians died from starvation under his reign .

    Report Post »  
  • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
    Posted on May 6, 2012 at 2:37am

    He did of asphyxia and methane poisioning, from having his head squarely up his butt. That and a bad dose of Stalin Stabbing or the clap.

    Report Post » Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
  • 9635kari
    Posted on May 6, 2012 at 1:52am

    I could not care less how this bastard died. He is dead and that is all that matters. The sad thing is that his followers even in 2012 are wearing the coat of communism. We must be ever vigilant!!!

    Report Post »  
  • Psychosis
    Posted on May 6, 2012 at 1:00am

    why would we care how he died

    just be glad the despot kicked the bucket

    Report Post » Psychosis  
  • piper60
    Posted on May 6, 2012 at 12:50am

    I’d like to know why they say that convulsions are unusual for some one who has had strokes. My husband has had a stroke, and he used to have seizures before they figured the right dosing on his meds.

    Report Post » piper60  
    • Anamah
      Posted on May 6, 2012 at 1:07am

      Soviet Communists from Russia have been always poison loving killers. Hopefully we are not going to practice also that part of their ideology!

      Report Post »  
    • barber2
      Posted on May 6, 2012 at 7:47am

      ANA: yes. Our local Workers of the World Democrats / union thugs / anti-capitalist Occupiers are still just assassinating reputations, smearing the “ nasty rich ” taxpayers, and blowing up budgets !

      Report Post »  
  • pwatkins
    Posted on May 6, 2012 at 12:45am

    It makes me wonder if this article and interests in poisoning came out bc the coroner that was in charge of Andrew Briethart‘s autopsy died from poison of some kind the day Andrew’s autopsy report came out…kinda strange….maybe. They are now investigating the coroner’s death to see how he was poisoned. Poisoning seems to be a well used method in many strange deaths.

    When reading this article I could only imagine Obama and his followers wanting his body kept like this when he passes away someday. The thought of that is gross.

    Report Post »  
  • lukerw
    Posted on May 5, 2012 at 11:53pm

    Poison… took out… many Christian Kings of Jerusalem… Italian Nobles… Napoleon… maybe Alexander the Great… and who knows whom else… so why not Lenin?

    Report Post » lukerw  
  • Sue Dohnim
    Posted on May 5, 2012 at 11:52pm

    He died of Marxism, the gangster ideolgy

    Report Post » Sue Dohnim  
  • kcinco
    Posted on May 5, 2012 at 11:28pm

    stranger things have been known to happen. interesting story

    Report Post » kcinco  
  • WeekendAtBernankes
    Posted on May 5, 2012 at 11:02pm

    That would be Stalin’s style.

    Report Post » WeekendAtBernankes  
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