Has the mystery of Alexander the Great's death been solved? New theory claims a rare neurological disorder took his life - and left him alive but paralyzed for six days while staff prepared his body for burial

It has baffled historians, but the mystery of Alexander the Great's death may finally have been solved.

Previous theories have concluded he died from infection, alcoholism or murder.

However, a new study concluded he met his demise thanks to the neurological disorder Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), which can leave sufferers paralyzed. It also claims that he was not dead - just paralyzed - for six days before finally passing away. In an article published in The Ancient History Bulletin, Dr Katherine Hall, a Senior Lecturer at the Dunedin School of Medicine and practising clinician, says previous theories around his death in 323BC have not been satisfactory as they have not explained the entire event.

'I wanted to stimulate new debate and discussion and possibly rewrite the history books by arguing Alexander's real death was six days later than previously accepted,' she said.

'His death may be the most famous case of pseudothanatos, or false diagnosis of death, ever recorded.

Along with the reported delay in decay, the 32-year-old was said to have developed a fever; abdominal pain; a progressive, symmetrical, ascending paralysis; and remained compos mentis until just before his death.


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