Nimhans wants Jyoti Basu’s ‘agile’ brain for research
By IANSWednesday, January 20, 2010
NEW DELHI - The premier National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (Nimhans) in Bangalore Wednesday said they would like to study Marxist patriarch Jyoti Basu’s brain to unravel the mystery of his agility even in old age.
“Jyoti Basu was 95 when he passed away, yet until the last moment he was very agile and active. Therefore, we would like to study his brain for research,” D. Nagaraja, director of Nimhans, told IANS here.
Basu died Sunday at the age of 95 after battling multiple illnesses. He donated his body for the use of medical science and, after a state funeral, it was handed over to a government medical college in Kolkata Tuesday.
“We have a brain bank and our neuro-pathology department is eager to study the brain of such an active man. Generally, with age the brain also ages, but in case of Jyoti Basu, it’s different,” explained Nagaraja, who is currently in Delhi.
“We want to study the neuron cells and other parts of his brain to understand the functioning of human brains. We can know the mystery and it would be educative for us as well.”
He said his institution is in touch with the Kolkata medical college and would really like to have their cooperation.
