MrBallen’s Medical Mysteries

Episode: Fan Favorite | Sudden Insanity

Date: September 2, 2025
Host: MrBallen (Wondery | Ballen Studios)

Overview

"Sudden Insanity" tells the chilling true story of a mysterious and rapidly progressive neurological illness in New Brunswick, Canada. The episode unravels the horrifying experience of a family grappling with the unexplained, devastating decline of their patriarch, Lewis Benchley, and traces the ripple effect across a growing cluster of similar cases. Through the lens of grief, detective work, and public health controversy, MrBallen explores the role of environmental toxins, government cover-up theories, and the desperate quest for answers in the face of a possible new disease.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Onset of a Medical Mystery

• Lewis Benchley’s Sudden Decline
  • Setting: New Brunswick, Canada, late 2018 – early 2019
  • Lewis, a previously healthy 81-year-old, experiences abrupt changes in behavior, confusion about the year, anger, and a seizure.
  • Classic dementia is suspected, but his symptoms are shockingly rapid and atypical.
• Quote:
  • “He said it was 1992, but it was not. That was 26 years earlier. And so now Jane was frightened.” (08:25, MrBallen)

2. A Cluster of Unknown Disease

• The Autopsy Conundrum
  • Neurologist Dr. Alan Marlowe suspects Creutzfeldt–Jakob Disease (CJD), a rare, fatal brain disorder.
  • All tests for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS, and even post-mortem checks for CJD return negative.
  • Records reveal at least 20 other similar cases in the region—none linked by lifestyle, age, or genetics.
• Quote:
  • "Something where these people lived was responsible for making them sick. But the doctor had no idea what it could be." (02:15, MrBallen)
  • “As with Lewis, many of the patients exhibited symptoms similar to CJD. But something was always slightly off… but the strangest thing was how young most of these patients were.” (13:10, MrBallen)

3. A Growing Public Health Scare

• The Mystery Goes Public
  • By 2021, over 40 individuals in Moncton and the Acadian Peninsula exhibit the same harrowing symptoms.
  • A leaked memo reveals authorities are now calling it the "New Brunswick Neurological Syndrome of unknown etiology". Six fatalities are recorded.
  • Patients span various ages and backgrounds—only geography connects them.
  • Families fear genetic risk but feel frustrated by official uncertainty.
• Quote:
  • “Ted read that Dr. Marlowe, along with a variety of other experts, had been meeting at the Public Health Agency of Canada to discuss a new disease that had afflicted more than 40 people in the region.” (15:46, MrBallen)

4. Institutional Roadblocks and Suspicion of Cover-Up

• Government Intervention
  • Dr. Marlowe’s independent team is sidelined when the provincial government takes over the investigation.
  • Official statements begin to downplay the cluster, asserting that each death is due to unrelated illnesses (cancer, Lewy body dementia, Alzheimer's).
  • Families and the Facebook support group organize, doubting the government findings and suspecting a cover-up for environmental causes.
• Quote:
  • “It just made no sense to Ted or anybody else in this group unless something was going on behind the scenes that they weren't aware of.” (19:53, MrBallen)

5. Environmental Investigation and Breakthrough

• Possible Cause: Herbicide Glyphosate
  • Dr. Marlowe, undeterred, launches his own unofficial investigation, focusing on a seasonal pattern in case surges (late summer/fall).
  • He hypothesizes a link to forestry herbicides, especially glyphosate, heavily used during logging.
  • In 2022, blood samples from 100+ patients are tested; 90% show elevated glyphosate, in extreme cases 15,000 times the baseline.
• Quote:
  • “Dr. Marlow's hunch had been correct. The results from the Quebec laboratory proved it. 90% of Dr. Marlow's patients' blood samples contained elevated levels of glyphosate… Dr. Marlowe was certain that this chemical was having a long-term, sometimes devastating effect on people's health.” (27:05, MrBallen)

6. Ongoing Debate and Hope for Answers

• Scientific and Political Divide
  • Canadian authorities, for a time, side with findings that contradict Dr. Marlowe’s, mirroring U.S. EPA rulings that glyphosate is safe.
  • However, the tide begins to turn as Quebec acknowledges glyphosate's association with neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s. Studies suggest glyphosate could disrupt gut bacteria and trigger brain inflammation.
• Quote:
  • “But despite his findings, not everyone agrees that glyphosate can be harmful…the debate is beginning to tilt in Dr. Marlowe’s favor.” (28:05, MrBallen)
• Future Outlook
  • In November 2024, a new premier states intent to reopen the New Brunswick disease investigation, giving hope to affected families.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Her husband's strange behavior the last couple of days seemed like something much more serious.” (07:17, MrBallen)
• On government motives:
  • “If it was discovered that exposure to these herbicide chemicals was sickening people in this area, it would be a massive liability for the Canadian government… Too many people stood to lose too much money.” (24:48, MrBallen)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00–02:40 – Introduction; family attends meeting about Lewis’s death
• 04:00–10:40 – Onset of Lewis’s symptoms, initial medical investigation
• 11:30–14:10 – Cluster of strange neurological cases is uncovered
• 15:33–20:00 – Media coverage and government takes over investigation
• 21:10–25:00 – Online family organizing, theories about environmental toxins, Dr. Marlowe’s independent testing
• 27:05–28:50 – Glyphosate confirmed in patient blood—debate of its impact and scientific scrutiny
• 29:05–29:50 – New premier promises action; hope for renewed investigation

Conclusion

"Sudden Insanity" delivers a gripping narrative that moves from personal horror to a public health crusade, blending medical mystery with environmental drama and bureaucratic intrigue. The episode leaves listeners with questions about the true causes of modern neurological disorders and the complex ties between health, industry, and government. With a new investigation promised, the story—like the illness at its heart—remains unsolved, but not forgotten.