It’s an ode to DNA. A new study sheds light on how Ludwig van Beethoven died almost 200 years ago — a puzzle that many have been interested in solving. Using five strands of the German composer’s hair ...

Samples of Beethoven's hair reveal he may have suffered from lead poisoning, which could explain some of the difficult physical maladies the composer suffered in his life. Ludwig van Beethoven was a ...

Genetic analysis of Ludwig van Beethoven’s hair has revealed that the composer had a high genetic risk for liver disease, which could have contributed to his death. It has also overturned a previous ...

NEW YORK (AP) — Nearly 200 years after Ludwig van Beethoven’s death, researchers pulled DNA from strands of his hair, searching for clues about the health problems and hearing loss that plagued him.