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Multiple realities
(covers information from several alternate timelines)

Irumodic Syndrome was a degenerative neurological disorder that caused deterioration of the synaptic pathways. The condition caused confusion, delusions, and eventually death. It could take several years to develop and several more before it proved deadly. The treatment of choice in 2370 was peridaxon, though this only relieved the symptoms. Genetic testing could determine if a person may develop Irumodic Syndrome in later life, but not all persons who tested positive would develop the condition.

False positives[]

In the anti-time future, Jean-Luc Picard was stated to have developed advanced Irumodic Syndrome by 2395. His condition caused many of his friends to doubt his claims that he has been shifting back and forth through time. In this time period, no cure was known to exist.

In the anti-time present, while seeking evidence that he could already have Irumodic Syndrome, Picard was informed by Beverly Crusher that while he did not have the disease itself, he did have a small structural defect in his parietal lobe that could lead to a number of neurological disorders, including Irumodic Syndrome. The defect was so small it required a level 4 neurographic scan to be located. (TNG: "All Good Things...")

In 2399, Dr. Moritz Benayoun informed Picard that his brain defect could result in one of many syndromes, but that they would all be fatal regardless of treatment. (PIC: "Maps and Legends") Two years later, Beverly Crusher diagnosed the syndrome within Jack (her and Picard's son) after the violent nightmares which plagued his childhood resurfaced more vividly. During a conversation with Jack, Picard affirmed that Irumodic Syndrome had been the specific illness that led to the demise of Picard's original body. (PIC: "The Bounty")

This diagnosis was called into question when Data, within the body of Daystrom Android M-5-10, informed Picard that further research by Altan Soong noted an "anomalous form" residing within Picard's body. Before Data could further explain Soong's findings, Lore took control of the android's body and interrupted. (PIC: "Dominion") After they stole Picard's body, Vadic's Changelings extracted the parts of the parietal lobe that were ostensibly afflicted with Irumodic Syndrome. (PIC: "Surrender") Based on Dr. Soong's research, the Changelings knew that the Irumodic Syndrome diagnosis was in fact a false positive in the cases of Picard and his son and rather the result of DNA manipulations during Picard's time as Locutus of Borg. (PIC: "Vox")

According to the script's pronunciation guide, this syndrome's name was pronounced as "ear-uh-MAHD-ik". [1]

The Pocket DS9 novel series Millennium also features Picard developing the disorder by the year 2400. The Star Trek Encyclopedia, 4th ed., vol. 1, p. 377 considered it a possibility that the "real" Picard might contract this syndrome.

An Instagram log released prior to "The Next Generation" states outright that Picard did develop Irumodic Syndrome, and that was what killed him in "Et in Arcadia Ego, Part 2".

External link[]

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