More than 200 brains preserved at Asia’s only brain bank in Karnataka

More than 200 human brains have been preserved at Asia’s only depression brain bank at JSS medical college in Mysore near here.

Set up under an Indo-Croatian joint venture, the brain bank is conducting extensive research on the brains of people, who had died due to various depression disorders.

According to the Principal of JSS medical college K Raghothama Rao, the brain bank has been funded by the Federal Department of Science and Technology, which has earmarked a total of Rs 5 billion for activities connected with brain at various levels.

The brain bank at JSS medical college in Mysore is the third in the world with the other two located at Croatia and Germany. Subject experts from both the countries are exchanging their expertise and breakthroughs, Rao said.

Out of the 200 human brains deposited in the brain bank, 22 brains belonged to people, who had died due to depressive mental disorders. The brain bank also had two brains of foetusus. “All the brains had been preserved in three deep freezers at around minus 80 degrees centigrade”, Rao said.

The researchers at the brain bank are already studying the microscopic structural changes in the brain with the help of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). The changes in the structure of DNA are being studied through the Circular Dichrome Spectroscope.

The researchers at the brain bank are looking forward to the arrival of a power lab, equipped with eight channel polygraph to study electrical activities in the brains, from Australia next week.

Rao expressed confidence over the pace of research in the direction of finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, which leads to memory loss among elderly people. The researchers are carrying out experiments with aged rabbits to reproduce the disease and evolve proper treatment. “The research is progressing at a good pace”, Rao said.
Breakthroughs achieved in such experiments could be used to treat various ailments among elderly people, which would also contribute to extension of the average life span of Indians, Rao added.