80-year-old man who ‘hasn’t slept since 1962’ claims doctors have no idea why
If you've ever woken up after a restless night feeling like you've barely slept, you don't know the half of it - one man claims he hasn't slept since 1962, and there seems to be no explanation for why.
Thai Ngoc from Vietnam has at various points been tested by doctors to see if he was faking his sleeplessness.
These tests apparently confirmed that Ngoc does indeed stay awake at all hours.
YouTuber Drew Binsky made it his mission to get in touch with Ngoc to learn more, which involved a trip out to Vietnam and a journey through flooded terrain to the town where Ngoc lives.
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After asking around with the locals, he's able to locate Ngoc and introduce himself, before spending some time with this medical marvel of a man.
Despite a language barrier (solved by an interpreter), Ngoc seems welcoming and in good spirits - at the time of the video in 2023 he was 80 years of age, although he looks impressively spry given his apparently sleepless nights.
Ngoc and his wife welcome Binsky with a traditional meal, which he attacks with gusto, and then takes him out into the fields to show him where he works.
Ngoc explains that his diet is fairly simple, but that he drinks a small bottle of rice wine on most days, which he thinks might have impacted his sleep.
After further conversation, Ngoc also reveals that he injured his hand permanently during the Vietnam War.
Binsky resolves to stay overnight with Ngoc, sharing his rice wine to see what a night in the life of the sleepless man looks like.
Interestingly, however, when asked about it Ngoc confirms that he actually does want to sleep - and says that if the medical authorities could help him to sleep, he would be interested in a solution.
So, it's not some boast for Ngoc, but rather an annoyance that makes him different from others.
The night unfolds, and both Binsky and his interpreter are increasingly tired by the wee hours of 3 or 4AM, but despite lying down Ngoc cannot actually fall asleep.
So, Ngoc's life ends up appearing like a curious and somewhat sad one, where he's able to spend large swathes of time thinking and meditating, but ultimately can't get the thing he actually wants - a solid night's sleep.
Whether scientists will ever figure out why Ngoc can't sleep is anyone's guess, but there's clearly still much to learn from him.