The brain, our most energy-greedy organ, starts suffering irreversible damage mere minutes after a loss of its blood and oxygen supply, leading to quick decay.
Despite its rapid decay, scientists have discovered that preserved brains from ancient times, up to 12,000 years old, are more common than previously thought.
Intriguingly, unusually preserved brains may involve protein misfolding, similar to neurodegenerative conditions, prompting questions about why this preservation occurs.
The research at Oxford that identified over 4,400 cases of preserved brains indicates there’s a significant historical precedent for finding intact brain tissues in various archaeological sites.
#brain-preservation #neuroscience #historical-archaeology #protein-misfolding #neurodegenerative-conditions
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