Morning:
20°c
Johnny Depp has become, in his young middle age, like a star of the movies’ golden period
Secret deal hatched by News of the World to hush up details of phone-tapping was sealed in a tiny room at the Royal Courts of Justice
More...
Professor commits suicide after catching dementia from tick bite
Last updated at 01:07am on 18.09.06
Brain disease: Alasdair Crockett killed himself
One of the country's top experts on modern life may have killed himself after catching a rare brain disease from a tiny insect bite.
University professor Alasdair Crockett was found dead in woods near his home on Saturday 48 hours after he was reported missing.
His distraught widow has told police the the leading academic was suffering from anxiety after he was bitten by a wood tick that carries the potentially-deadly Lyne Disease.
The illness can usually be treated and cleared up with anti-biotics but in extremely rare cases if it is not caught and treated early it attacks the nervous system leading to dementia.
The land, air and sea search for Dr Crockett, 38, was called off when police officers combing countryside around the family's home in Brightlingsea, Essex found a body in creekside woods a mile away.
A former research fellow at Nuffield College Dr Crockett took up a senior part-time post last year with a prestigious think tank that monitors life in modern Britain.
As one of the chief officers with the Institute for Social and Economic Research Dr Crockett and his colleagues based at Essex University collect data on people's changing lives.
Their findings are considered so important they are often used in determining government policy.
Cambridge-educated Dr Crockett, who held a Masters Philosophy degree, specialised in the sociology of religion and 19th century economic history.
But his life changed as he was forced to come to terms with the more serious long-term effects of Lyme Disease, an illness initially caused by an insect bite and often picked up by walkers and ramblers.
If treatment is not given early enough the disease can lead to severe mental illness such as schizophrenia.
A spokesman for Essex police said that Dr Crockett had been exhibiting symptoms of extreme anxiety which is among the effects of the disease in its advanced stages.
On Saturday after a widespread search involving a police helicopter, divers and searchers on the ground, Dr Crockett's body matching his description was found in Thicks Wood a 15-minute walk from near the family's home in the popular yachting village.
The hunt for the missing professor had involved a sweep of countryside around the town and divers were preparing to explore rivers and sandpits in the area.
A description of Dr Crockett - 6ft tall, slim with collar-length dark hair and wearing rectangular glasses - was also circulated to ports and airports.
But police said when he vanished he had taken nothing with him, such as his wallet, and was wearing only a T-shirt, trousers and shoes.
Mrs Crockett and the couple's two young children are currently being comforted by family and friends.
A family liaison officer said: "Understandably Mrs Crockett is devastated by the news and totally distraught, as are his family and close friends.
"She has asked that people respect her privacy as she comes to terms with the death of her husband."
An inquest will be held but a police spokesman said yesterday that foul play was not suspected and they were not looking for anyone else in connection with Dr Crockett's death.
Lyme Disease is caused by a single bite of a spider-like wood tick found in forests and on moorland all over the country, often where there are deer.
The initial symptoms of a rash, drowsiness and muscle pains can normally be treated successfully with anti-biotics.
But in extremely rare cases it can develop and become a chronic illness which slowly destroys the nervous system. It leads to loss of hearing, numbness and can eventually cause serious mental health problems such as schizophrenia
Reader views (9)
Here's a sample of the latest views published.
I have suffered from Chronic Neurological Lyme along with 2 other co-infections for 12 years. I was misdiagnosed for the first three and a half years. I have been mostly bedridden during the majority of the past 12 years suffering from nerve pain, nerve damage, anxiety, panic attacks, memory loss, cauterizations for unknown leisions, insomnia, loss of sexual intimacy, depression, thoughts of suicide, burning sensations throughout my entire body, including the bottoms of my feet, severe headaches, loss of kidney function, heart weakness and palpatations. The symptoms go on and on. My husband and family have watched me suffer (and that is putting it lightly) because the doctors choose to ignore the word "Lyme Disease". My heart aches for you and your children. I am so sorry for your loss. Words are just not enough... God Bless You and your children..
- Linda Girard, Gouverneur, USA
A terribly sad story.
- T Ali, UK
This is such a tragic story. Whether the person is a celebrated intellectual or just a blue collar landscaper, the loss is devastating to all who are close to them. My sincere condolences to the Crocketts.
- Rick Laferriere, Newport, RI USA
I too have recently been treated for Lyme disease. My GP was perplexed by my symptoms for several weeks, and my lucky break came when another GP at the practice - a South African - said that my symptoms sounded like tick bite fever.
That doesn't exist in the UK, but as I knew of Lyme disease and had a few weeks earlier been bitten by a tick, I did some internet research.
I quickly became convinced I had Lyme disease, though the medical profession took a little longer to be so sure.
As this article makes tragically clear, the potential ramifications of the disease can be appalling. As is also becoming clear, the disease is not as rare as is currently believed.
It's another thing for the overworked medical profession to take on board.
- Hugh, Hampshire, UK
I too suffer from neurological and psychiatric symptoms from Lyme Disease. Late stage Lyme Disease is not well understood by the US doctors either, I searched for a year as to what was causing my brain to malfunction.
- Michelle Gallagher, Olney, MD USA
I am one of many thousands of people who have been found to have Chronic Borreliosis, after being labled with "ME" for 13 years. Lyme/Borreliosis is not rare. Many people may have the Borrelia bacteria in the body and may be asymptomatic. It may need a trigger for symptoms to start to appear. In my case, the trigger was a vaccine.
My symptoms have been very severe and have rendered me bed bound for very many years, and certainly housebound. The symptoms have ranged from flu like symptoms with low grade fevers, vertigo, tinnitus, fibromyalgic severe muscle pains, with gut problems and limited vision. Over the years I had not seen any sign of recovery and heard about the possibility of Lyme disease, which minics other illnesses. Also, I do not remember being bitten.
I was lucky to be able to see a private doctor, and after tests I was found to have the Borrelia in my blood. If the medical profession took this illness seriously, with research and acceptable long term treatments of antibiotics, Lyme/Borreliosis sufferers would have hopes of some kind of recovery.
- Carole Stevens, Hertfordshire, UK
I also have Lyme disease. It is a terrible story, this man was very intelligent and helpful. Doctors need to be more aware of this disease. There are thousands of cases per year in the U.K, yet doctors still say it is "extremely rare".
When will this attitude change?!
- Chris, Tunbridge Wells, Kent
It is time for the world medical community to recognize Lyme borreliosis as a serious threat to public health, and come together to find effective treatments for late-stage ilness.
- Sharon Hawkes, Maine, USA
Chronic Lyme Disease is not as rare as stated here.
I am among many who suffer from this illness since I was misdiagnosed for 20 yrs until I read a magazine article and realized what I had. I fight every day of my life not to loose functioning and the basic comforts of life. My symptoms, many have different symptoms, are from aching all over like a flu that doesn't go away, to vertigo, tinnitus, mental confusion, memory loss, skin problems, gastrointestinal problems and more. It has changed my life since I cannot work and now am financially strapped.
How sad that this intelligent man got this illness and was not treated right away so he did not have to deal with these terrible symptoms.
The lack of knowledge of the treatment of Lyme Disease is a crime.
- Ann Prow, Payson, AZ
