Frederic Lewy

Intraneuronal inclusion bodies in the brainstem nuclei of patients suffering from paralysis agitans were first described in a 1912 paper by Frederic Lewy. These findings, derived from research conducted at Alois Alzheimer’s laboratory in Munich, would eventually be identified as a primary diagnostic indicator for Parkinson’s disease and dementia with Lewy bodies.

Early Education and Academic Training

Born in Berlin in 1885 to a Jewish family, Lewy pursued medical training across Germany and Switzerland. He completed his education at the University of Zurich and graduated from his studies in Berlin in 1910. During this period of foundational laboratory research, he worked alongside contemporaries including Hans Gerhard Creutzfeldt, Alfons Maria Jakob, and Ugo Cerletti.

Professional Appointments and Transition

Throughout his career, Lewy held positions at institutions including the Charité in Berlin and later, the University of Pennsylvania. His professional identity evolved through his roles as a physician, neurologist, neuropathologist, psychiatrist, and university teacher. In 1933, he left Germany to move to the United States.

Legacy and Death

Lewy, who held citizenship in both Germany and the United States, functioned as an active member of the medical community until his death. He died on October 5, 1950, at the age of 65. He was buried at the Haverford New Meeting Cemetery in Pennsylvania.

Fast facts

• Born: 1885, Berlin
• Died: 1950, Pennsylvania
• Education: University of Zurich
• Employers: Charité, University of Pennsylvania
• Citizenship: United States, Germany
• Primary field: Neurology
• Burial site: Haverford New Meeting Cemetery

Questions readers ask

What are Lewy bodies?

They are intraneuronal inclusion bodies in brainstem nuclei discovered by Frederic Lewy in 1912.

When did Frederic Lewy move to the United States?

He moved to the United States in 1933 after leaving Germany.

Achievements

• Held posts at University of Pennsylvania and Charité