In a remarkable intersection of science and personal legacy, the brain of L. Stephen Coles, a prominent researcher in aging, has undergone extensive study after being cryopreserved following his passing in 2018. Nestled in a controlled environment at a cryonics facility in Arizona, Coles’s brain has remained at sub-zero temperatures, with a significant analysis recently taking place. The brain was preserved using a method intended to prevent ice crystal formation, which can cause significant damage to cellular structures.
Coles had a profound interest in cryogenics and, before his death from pancreatic cancer, expressed a desire for his brain to be meticulously studied. Cryobiologist Greg Fahy was tasked with investigating the preservation process, specifically to see if cracking—a common issue when biological tissues are frozen—would occur in Coles’s brain. Fahy, the chief scientific officer at 21st Century Medicine, noted that the brain remains astonishingly well-preserved, allowing for unprecedented insights into its structure. Despite some skepticism from fellow cryobiologists who argue that the brain is not alive, Fahy believes that his work could yield critical information for neuroscientists and potentially advance the field of organ preservation.
The journey of Coles’s brain from cryopreservation to analysis involved meticulous procedures. After his body was cooled post-mortem and transported to Alcor, his brain was infused with cryoprotectants to prevent freezing damage. Initial biopsies were taken and stored for future research. Years later, Fahy found that rewarming and rehydrating the brain cells resulted in them regaining a degree of their structural integrity. Although the complete preservation of cellular structure remains a challenge, the findings suggest that cryogenic techniques can effectively maintain the intricate details of brain tissue. While the prospect of reviving cryopreserved brains remains speculative, the implications of this research could influence future developments in organ banking and transplantation.
Source: This scientist rewarmed and studied pieces of his friend’s cryopreserved brain via MIT Technology Review