This claim, described by some as a “medical enigma,” led a team of neuroscientists at Stanford University to study his condition remotely in an attempt to uncover the secrets of sleep and its mechanisms in the brain, according to a Western newspaper. Oliver, who previously worked as a train driver and obtained a pilot’s license, was living a normal life before this nightmare began. However, today he has lost his job, home, partner, and even his personal identity due to his constant state of wakefulness.
Professor Guy Leschziner, a neurologist and author of “The Night Brain,” considers this condition deadly, noting that other creatures, such as dogs, die within 17 days and mice within 32 days if deprived of sleep. However, Oliver strongly rejects this interpretation, asserting, “I know my body. There is no moment of rest or loss of consciousness. Even under the influence of strong sedatives, brain scans showed no real sleep activity.”
Oliver underwent extensive medical trials, including anesthesia with drugs used in surgeries, yet he did not lose consciousness. He traveled to Portugal and contacted clinics in the United States, Germany, and Switzerland seeking help, but was either ignored or met with apologies.
Researchers at Stanford University believe Oliver’s condition may open new avenues for understanding sleep mechanisms. One researcher stated, “If we could study this case closely, we might discover new mechanisms for controlling sleep.” Yet, so far, Oliver remains trapped in his painful wakefulness, grappling with a medical mystery that could be the key to the secrets of the human brain or merely a deadly illusion in need of explanation.
