Scott Alexander examines the historical link between gout and achievement, ultimately finding the evidence unconvincing despite some intriguing connections.
Longer summary
Scott Alexander explores the historical association between gout and high achievement, discussing a theory that high uric acid levels might contribute to success. He examines the biological basis for this idea, comparing uric acid to caffeine and theacrine. However, after reviewing several studies, Scott concludes that the evidence for this theory is weak and inconsistent. He then discusses more recent research linking uric acid to mood disorders, particularly mania, but suggests that more research is needed before any firm conclusions can be drawn.
Shorter summary