{{short description|German neurologist and pathologist}} right|thumb|Walther Spielmeyer (1879-1935) '''Walther Spielmeyer''' (23 April 1879 – 6 February 1935) was a German neuropathologist who was a native of Dessau.
== Biography == He studied medicine at the University of Halle as a student of Eduard Hitzig (1838-1907). At Halle he was influenced by the work of psychiatrists Karl Heilbronner (1869-1914), Gustav Aschaffenburg (1866-1944) and pathologist Karl Joseph Eberth (1835-1926).<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=eDvHZWRo9_0C&dq=%22Walther+Spielmeyer%22+1879&pg=PT546 The Founders of Child Neurology] by Stephen Ashwal</ref> In 1906 he relocated to Freiburg as an assistant to Alfred Hoche (1865-1943). At the suggestion of Emil Kraepelin (1856-1926), he succeeded Alois Alzheimer (1864-1915) as director of the ''Anatomisches Laboratorium der Psychiatrischen und Nervenklinik'' in Munich. At Munich he worked with Franz Nissl (1860-1919) and Felix Plaut (1877-1940).
In 1928 the Rockefeller Foundation financed the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute with Spielmeyer as director of the ''Hirnpathologisches Institut''. He died of pulmonary tuberculosis on February 6, 1935.<ref>[http://www.whonamedit.com/doctor.cfm/6.html Walther Spielmeyer] @ Who Named It</ref>
== Research == Spielmeyer is remembered for his research of peripheral nervous system injuries as well as his specialized study of disturbed brain function caused by temporary circulation problems.<ref name=IL>[http://www.uic.edu/depts/mcne/founders/page0090.html Founders of Neurology; University of Illinois at Chicago] (biographical information)</ref> He is credited with making significant contributions involving the function of glia in inflammatory processes and on the pathophysiology of cerebral blood flow in neurological-psychiatric disorders.
He was the author of highly regarded books on the neurohistology and histopathology of the nervous system; "''Technik der mikroskopischen Untersuchung des Nervensystems''" (1911) and "''Histopathologie des Neurvensystems''" (1922), the latter work being known for its excellent illustrations.<ref name=IL/> He coined the term "Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease" to refer to a rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disease first described separately by the eponymous German neurologists.<ref>[http://www.whonamedit.com/synd.cfm/696.html Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease] @ Who Named It</ref> left|thumb|Walther Spielmeyer and his laboratory team at Munich, 1927 (Spielmeyer at center front).
== Associated eponym == * ''Spielmeyer-Vogt disease'': A congenital progressive lysosome dysfunction that usually presents itself around the age of five, and is characterized by cerebroretinal degeneration, dementia and early death. Named along with neurologist Heinrich Vogt (1875-1936).
== Selected writings == * ''Die Trypanosomenkrankheiten und ihre Beziehungen zu den syphilogenen Nervenkrankheiten'' (Trypanosomiasis and its correlation to syphilitic nerve disorders). Jena, Fischer, 1908. * ''Technik der mikroskopischen Untersuchung des Nervensystems'' (Microscopic studies of the nervous system). Berlin, Springer, 1911; 4. Aufl., 1930. * ''Die progressive Paralyse''. In: Handbuch der Neurologie, Bd. 3; Berlin, 1912. * ''Zur Klinik und Anatomie der Nerven-Schussverletzungen''. Berlin, Springer, 1915. * ''Histopathologie des Nervensystems'' (Histopathology of the nervous system). Erster Band: Allgemeiner Teil. Berlin, J. Springer, 1922. * ''Degeneration und Regeneration am peripherischen Nerven''. (Degeneration and regeneration of the peripheral nervous system). Handbuch der normalen und pathologischen Physiologie, Bd. 3; Berlin, 1929. * ''Die Anatomie der Psychosen''. (Anatomy of psychosis). Handbuch der Geisteskrankheiten, Bd. 11; Berlin, 1930.
== References == * This article is based on a translation of an equivalent article at the German Wikipedia, source listed as: [http://www.deutsche-biographie.de/sfz74853.html biography of Spielmeyer] @ NDB/ADB Deutsche Biographie {{reflist}}
{{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Spielmeyer, Walther}} Category:German neurologists Category:German pathologists Category:1879 births Category:1935 deaths Category:People from Dessau-Roßlau Category:Tuberculosis deaths in Germany Category:Max Planck Institute directors