Sounds fake, but it’s real
What is the walking corpse syndrome? Discover 10 odd medical conditions
Published on December 3, 2024
Credit: Ani Kolleshi
Not all medical conditions sound as serious as they are, but others… Others have names that seem straight out of science fiction tales. However, rest assured, they are all very real. From conditions that turn you into Sleeping Beauty to disorders that leave you feeling like an alien in your own skin, we’ve gathered 10 medical conditions whose names will leave you scratching your head. Keep reading and find out about these illnesses with weird names!
Sleeping Beauty syndrome
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Who hasn’t wished they could sleep 20 hours a day? That’s simply a dream come true! But people with Klein-Levin syndrome don’t really think that. The condition is commonly known as Sleeping Beauty Syndrome.
Those affected by this condition experience episodes where they sleep excessively for hours, and even days! When awake, they can be confused, disoriented, and exhibit unusual behaviors like binge eating.
The condition can last for years, though episodes tend to become less frequent over time. It’s unclear what causes the syndrome, and there’s no specific treatment. The name sounds enchanting, but for those living with it, Sleeping Beauty Syndrome is more of a nightmare!
Mad cow disease
Credit: Timo Wagner
This one sounds like something out of a sci-fi horror movie, but it’s a very real condition that affects the brain and spinal cord of cows. It is officially called Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) and the symptoms are aggression or erratic behavior in infected cattle. That is why it’s called "mad".
Now, this list is about human conditions. But here’s the trick: The disease can be transmitted to humans through the consumption of contaminated beef, causing a fatal brain disorder known as variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
While strict food safety regulations have significantly reduced the risk, the nickname "Mad Cow Disease" sticks because of the startling symptoms it causes. Don’t worry! Despite the scary name, it’s extremely rare to contract in humans today.
Alien hand syndrome
Credit: Geetanjal Khanna
Imagine your hand moves, but you didn’t send that signal to your brain. Imagine your hand doing things you never intended, creepy right? That’s what happens when you have alien hand syndrome.
People with this rare neurological disorder experience involuntary hand movements that seem purposeful, such as picking up objects or even trying to interfere with tasks the person is consciously performing. It’s called "alien" because the hand feels like it has a mind of its own, separate from the person’s control.
It is usually caused by brain injury or surgery, and it can be quite distressing and disorienting. As you can imagine, there’s no cure, but some types of therapy help reduce the movements.
Facial blindness
Credit: Tachina Lee
You’re walking on the street and you see someone. You think "I know them! I don’t know where from, but I know them!" Well, that’s not the case for everyone. Prosopagnosia, or more commonly known as facial blindness, is a condition that affects a person’s ability to recognize faces. No, not just random faces: It could be your best friend’s face, for example.
The name comes from the Greek words prósopo for "face" and agnōsia which means "ignorance."
While many of us might be forgetful with names, those with prosopagnosia may not even recognize familiar faces, including their own reflection! This condition can be present from birth or result from brain injury. Although there’s no cure, many people find ways to manage it, such as focusing on other details like voice or clothing. Weird how the brain works, huh!
Werewolf syndrome
Credit: Alexandre Debiève
No, no human has ever turned into a real werewolf when the full moon comes. But this condition is called that due to some human’s resemblance to the fictional creature.
Hypertrichosis, better known as werewolf syndrome, causes excessive hair growth all over the body. The condition gets its mythical nickname because people with it can develop thick hair on their faces, resembling the werewolves of folklore.
It is an extremely rare condition, and it takes different forms. For some, this overgrowth only happens in small patches of skin whereas others’ conditions affect large areas. No cure has been found to this date, but it’s quite manageable and it’s not dangerous at all!
"Alice in Wonderland" syndrome
Credit: Paolo Nicolello
Alice in Wonderland syndrome sounds whimsical, but it’s a condition that distorts how a person perceives their body or surroundings.
Naturally, it was named after Lewis Carroll’s famous character, and those with this syndrome may feel as if their body parts are much larger or smaller than they actually are, similar to how Alice’s size changes once she goes down the rabbit hole!
These perceptions can be disorienting, making the world seem like it’s out of proportion or shifting in strange ways. The condition is often associated with migraines or epilepsy. While it’s not dangerous, the sensations can be unsettling and, contrary to others that we’ve mentioned, not very easy to deal with every day.
Stone man disease
Credit: Ortopediatri Çocuk Ortopedi Akademisi
The official name for the stone man disease is Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP), which is a rare genetic condition where soft tissues like muscles and tendons gradually turn into bone. As the body forms more bone, it restricts movement, effectively "freezing" a person in place. Inconvenient, to say the least, don’t you think?
The condition progresses over time, and as more joints are affected, simple actions like eating or breathing can become difficult. There’s no cure for this disease, and any trauma to the body, like a fall or surgery, can worsen the condition.
As you can imagine, the name comes from the fact that those affected may eventually feel like their body has turned to stone. It’s a tough, life-altering condition, despite it sounds like a Spiderman’s enemy!
Walking corpse syndrome
Credit: Jeremy Bishop
We get it, some conditions are really serious. Now, who is in charge of naming them? This condition, officially known as Cotard’s Delusion, goes by the name walking corpse syndrome but it’s not because one exactly looks like a zombie.
The neuropsychological disorder makes people believe they are dead, missing organs, or don’t exist. It was first described in the 1880s, it causes those who have it to feel detached from reality, often convinced they have no functioning body parts or that they’re a "walking corpse."
It sounds terrifying, not only for the person experiencing it but for those around them.
What’s the origin? It is linked to severe depression or brain trauma. Though the name sounds straight out of a horror movie, Cotard’s Delusion is a serious and distressing mental health condition.
Imposter syndrome
Credit: Vasilis Caravitis
This one also belongs to the field of mental health conditions and it is the most common for most young adults today. Ever feel like you’re not good enough, even when all the evidence says otherwise? That’s imposter syndrome, a psychological phenomenon where people doubt their accomplishments and fear being exposed as frauds for no reason whatsoever!
Though it is not a formal medical diagnosis, the term was coined by psychologists in 1978 and has gained recognition for describing a feeling many high achievers experience. Despite outward success, those with imposter syndrome struggle with feelings of inadequacy. Can you relate to this one?
Foreign accent syndrome
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To finish this article on a higher note, let’s talk about foreign accent syndrome. Can you imagine what is it? No, it’s not the ability to adapt to different accents.
Imagine going to bed and waking up with a completely different accent than the one you always had! That’s what the syndrome is.
It usually occurs after a stroke or brain injury and results in someone suddenly speaking with an accent they’ve never had before. While the person’s native language remains the same, their speech patterns may shift, making it sound as if they’re from a different area or a different country altogether.
No matter how much of a language lover you are, imagine the chaos of having to communicate in a new language out of the blue!
