Hemochromatosis Featured In “Pilot” of New TV Drama

On last night’s premier of the “Pilot” episode of CBS’ new drama “Limitless” – a continuation of the film with by the same name that starred Bradley Cooper.  In the TV show (like the movie) the protagonist, Brian Finch, is taking a designer drug (called NZT) that allows him to use 100% of his brain’s potential.

Without giving away too much, Finch, while on NZT, figures out that his father is suffering from Hemochromatosis – one of the more common of the rare, genetic blood disorders that results in what is called iron-overload.  If left untreated iron-overload can do serious, life-threatening damage to the body’s internal organs.  Unfortunately for Finch’s father he is in desperate need of a liver transplant.

With rise of blood disorders appearing in TV shows (Secrets & Lies and American Horror Story) and the misconceptions that sometimes are portrayed…we will continue to monitor “Limitless” for accuracy.

Learn more about Hemochromatosis from the Canadian Hemochromatosis Society:

Photo Credit: Jeff Neumann/CBS