Dr. Arenberg had a dramatic introduction into what would become his life’s work when he was young, having witnessed the unexpected collapse of his friend’s mother. He found out the cause was a condition known as Meniere’s Disease, an inner ear condition that causes sudden unexpected vertigo. He entered school to become a doctor specializing in ear conditions. He completed his residency in 1974 and eventually became one of the leading experts of the disease, having developed groundbreaking treatments that changed many patients’ lives.
Enthusiasm
Dr. Arenberg, an art enthusiast, realized that contrary to popular belief, Vincent van Gogh’s well-known health woes did not match up with diagnosis of epilepsy, but actually was more likely caused by Meniere’s disease. As a lover of van Gogh’s art, as well as an expert on the condition he knew the artist to have suffered from, Dr. Arenberg began to research van Gogh’s life and letters in depth.
Affliction
In 1990, in observance of the occasion of the 100-year anniversary of Vincent van Gogh’s death, Dr. Arenberg published his theory about the artist’s affliction, which became the cover story of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
Research
Further intrigued by the other mysteries in van Gogh’s life, Dr. Arenberg continued his research, focusing on the unusual circumstances of the artist’s final days before his unexpected death in 1890.
Launch
“Killing Vincent” will present these findings in a brand-new book available in e-book and print. It will also feature interactive elements, including social media platforms as well as a website, allowing readers to interact and discuss the various theories about van Gogh’s life and death, allowing them to vote on who may have killed the beloved painter.