Melting Brain Syndrome

The Midnight Article "Melting Brain Syndrome" was written by u/ScaryStacy and posted to r/MidnightPaper.

The text of the Article was as follows:

**MELTING BRAIN SYNDROME**

A peculiar phenomenon has been appearing at an alarming rate in developed nations around the world. What started as a mild affliction in the United States is being dubbed a calamity as its symptoms have manifested into a much more sinister disease.

The so called “Brain Melting Syndrome”, originally observed in younger people, has seemingly no reservations. It affects people of all ages, all ethnic groups, and all dispositions. A disease that is almost impossible to catch until it, seemingly, spontaneously manifests itself.

Reports by the WHO and CDC say initial symptoms include attention span issues, changes in verbal and written speech, and an increase in attention seeking behavior — even from those who were considered complete introverts. By later stages, these symptoms will have evolved into zombie-like behavior and group think, lack of verbal speech, neuroticism, and physical deformities of the neck.

Indeed, it is known as “Brain Melting Syndrome” on account that those that are most afflicted seemingly lose their minds and become husks of their former selves: losing all desire to engage in regular society.

If you or your loved ones have begun showing symptoms it is not too late. Doctors have hypothesized the root cause to be a parasitic organism that spreads in the air. Please, stay inside, on your phones, on social media, and stay safe.

Description:

"Melting Brain Syndrome" is a Biological-Type Oddity. It is some kind of disease that causes several horrifying physical and psychological issues.

Symptoms:

The Article states that the disease first manifests itself subtly, with individuals afflicted with the Syndrome demonstrating lack of attention span, changes in verbal and written speech, and an increase in extroverted attention-seeking behavior, regardless of what kind of personality the person exhibited before. Eventually, an individual afflicted with the Syndrome will begin to exhibit a great lessening of physical and intellectual behavior, appearing "zombie-like," and will exhibit "group think", lack of verbal speech, neuroticism, and physical deformities of the neck. Eventually, an affected individual's brain will be so impaired that an affected individual will retreat from society completely.

Origins:

The Article mentions that doctors have narrowed down the cause of Melting Brain Syndrome...and the results are worrying. Doctors hypothesize that the root cause of the condition is some kind of airborne parasitic organism.

Indeed, there are many kinds of parasites that are known as "brain-eating parasites" in nature. The most common is known as the brain-eating amoeba Naegleria fowleri, which causes amebic encephalitis. However, these kinds of organisms are usually found in water, typically in warmer climates. The fact that Melting Brain Syndrome is caused by an airborne organism creates an unprecedented level of danger. Any airborne organism small enough to enter the body is also invisible to the human eye, meaning that the only way to prevent its spread would be to wear a face mask and goggles. With the current pandemic, the face mask is already an everyday necessity, but this may not be the case for long, leaving people vulnerable to this life-changing condition.

Treatment:

Perhaps the most disturbing fact about the Brain Melting Syndrome is that its Midnight Article does not mention any kind of treatment or cure. It is possible that it was simply not discovered by the time that the Article was written...or that treatment is impossible. Parasitic organisms are typically very difficult to treat. There are several antiparasitic medications that target invading organisms by destroying them or inhibiting their growth. However, parasites that affect the brain would be incredibly hard to reach. Neurosurgery might be the only way to remove the organism, but this would only be an option if the organism itself is large enough or close enough to the exterior of the brain to identify. If the organism burrows deep into the cerebellum, it would be nigh impossible to remove it without cutting through most of an affected individual's brain matter, doing much more damage than the organism itself.

Whatever the case, the prognosis for people affected with this horrifying syndrome is bleak.