cryopreserving the brain

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Cryopreserving the Cryopreserving the BrainBrain

Ben BestBen Best

President/CEOPresident/CEO

Cryonics InstituteCryonics Institute

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CRYOPRESERVING THE CRYOPRESERVING THE BRAINBRAIN

Do we need to know how the brain works? Do we need to know how the brain works? The Anatomical Basis of MindThe Anatomical Basis of Mind (Science section of BENBEST.COM)(Science section of BENBEST.COM) Neural Networks, Artificial IntelligenceNeural Networks, Artificial Intelligence (Computer section of BENBEST.COM)(Computer section of BENBEST.COM) Preserving synapses preserves memory and Preserving synapses preserves memory and

identityidentity Materialism: Mind = BrainMaterialism: Mind = Brain

Preserving the brain preserves the mindPreserving the brain preserves the mind Viable tissue, good EMs (good structure)Viable tissue, good EMs (good structure) Identity & memory in electrical activity? Identity & memory in electrical activity?

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DAMAGE versus DAMAGE versus DESTRUCTIONDESTRUCTION

Criterion for Distinction: Is Repair Possible ?Criterion for Distinction: Is Repair Possible ? Vase breaks into 4 pieces (damage)Vase breaks into 4 pieces (damage) Vase is dissolved in acid (destruction) Vase is dissolved in acid (destruction) Vase is crushed and pulverized (??)Vase is crushed and pulverized (??)

How small are the pieces? Molecular/atomic size ? How small are the pieces? Molecular/atomic size ? What is the limit to what Nanotechology can fix ?What is the limit to what Nanotechology can fix ?

Repair capabilities of future technology ?Repair capabilities of future technology ? Distinguish Damage from Destruction in an Distinguish Damage from Destruction in an

ultimate sense ?ultimate sense ? Conservative: Minimize damageConservative: Minimize damage

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DAMAGE versus DAMAGE versus DESTRUCTIONDESTRUCTION Disease (Alzheimer’s Disease, Vascular Dementia)Disease (Alzheimer’s Disease, Vascular Dementia)

50% chance by age 90 – cryopreserve a demented 50% chance by age 90 – cryopreserve a demented brain ?brain ?

Don’t give up, may remove plaques & tanglesDon’t give up, may remove plaques & tangles Aging (damaged macromolecules, cells, tissue)Aging (damaged macromolecules, cells, tissue)

Destruction -- neurodegeneration (stroke recovery) ?Destruction -- neurodegeneration (stroke recovery) ? Psychological loss of the desire for life ? Why Life Psychological loss of the desire for life ? Why Life

Extension ?Extension ? Freezing/Cracking Freezing/Cracking

Prevent freezing damage/destruction, thermal stressPrevent freezing damage/destruction, thermal stress VitrificationVitrification Intermediate temperature storageIntermediate temperature storage

IschemiaIschemia Tissue degeneration when no oxygen or nutrientTissue degeneration when no oxygen or nutrient Standby – cool-down and cardiopulmonary supportStandby – cool-down and cardiopulmonary support

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VITRIFICATION versus VITRIFICATION versus NANOTECHNOLGYNANOTECHNOLGY

“Any sufficiently advanced technology is “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”indistinguishable from magic.”

-- Arthur C. Clarke-- Arthur C. Clarke

Faith in NanotechnologyFaith in Nanotechnology ““Vitrification is nothing more than good PR.”Vitrification is nothing more than good PR.”

-- A Nanotechnology expert-- A Nanotechnology expert Wasting tens of thousands of dollars on Wasting tens of thousands of dollars on

Vitrification? Vitrification? Wasting millions on Cryonics Research ?Wasting millions on Cryonics Research ? Nanotechnology Religion complacency inhibit Nanotechnology Religion complacency inhibit

researchresearch (future technology will fix all damage)(future technology will fix all damage)

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NANOTECH RESCUE NANOTECH RESCUE EQUIPMENTEQUIPMENT

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WHOLE BODY versus WHOLE BODY versus NEURONEURO

Make a new bodyMake a new body So much damage to fix, new body will So much damage to fix, new body will

be trivialbe trivial What we think (reasonable) What we think (reasonable) What non-cryonicists think What non-cryonicists think

(unreasonable)(unreasonable) Others don’t think about things the way Others don’t think about things the way

we dowe do

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BRAIN FREEZE -321BRAIN FREEZE -321Jack PolidoroJack Polidoro

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WHOLE BODY versus WHOLE BODY versus NEURONEURO

Memorabilia Memorabilia Diaries, photos, stamp collection, etc. Diaries, photos, stamp collection, etc. Compensate for destructionCompensate for destruction

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CIRCLE OF WILLISCIRCLE OF WILLIS

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BRAIN PERFUSION BRAIN PERFUSION STRATEGIESSTRATEGIES

Perfuse whole body (femoral) Perfuse whole body (femoral) Median Sternotomy (cut open the Median Sternotomy (cut open the

chest)chest) Perfuse into aorta, clamp armsPerfuse into aorta, clamp arms

Cut off the head, find & cannulate Cut off the head, find & cannulate Cut through the clavicle and perfuse Cut through the clavicle and perfuse

through lower vesselsthrough lower vessels

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CIRCLE OF WILLISCIRCLE OF WILLIS

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CRACKINGCRACKING Vitrified tissue solidifies at about -125ºCVitrified tissue solidifies at about -125ºC Cracks from thermal stress by -196ºC (LN Cracks from thermal stress by -196ºC (LN

temp)temp) Like a broken vase?Like a broken vase?

Not pulverized, not as bad as freezing damageNot pulverized, not as bad as freezing damage Technically like whole body versus Neuro? Technically like whole body versus Neuro? Match the ends of severed axons and Match the ends of severed axons and

dendrites?dendrites? Storage at -130ºC is costly and difficultStorage at -130ºC is costly and difficult

Intermediate Temperature StorageIntermediate Temperature Storage Is it worth it? If the alternative is nothing ?Is it worth it? If the alternative is nothing ?

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DAMAGE versus DAMAGE versus DESTRUCTIONDESTRUCTION Disease (Alzheimer’s Disease (Alzheimer’s

Disease/Neurodegeneration)Disease/Neurodegeneration) Don’t give up, may remove plaques & tanglesDon’t give up, may remove plaques & tangles

Aging (damaged macromolecules, cells, Aging (damaged macromolecules, cells, tissue)tissue) Rejuvenation Medicine (lost synapses)Rejuvenation Medicine (lost synapses)

Freezing/Cracking Freezing/Cracking Prevent ice formation, thermal stressPrevent ice formation, thermal stress

Ischemia/AutolysisIschemia/Autolysis Degeneration occurs without oxygen or nutrientDegeneration occurs without oxygen or nutrient

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ISCHEMIC DAMAGEISCHEMIC DAMAGE What happens to biological tissues when What happens to biological tissues when

there is no blood flow, no oxygen or there is no blood flow, no oxygen or nutrient)nutrient) Autolysis (brain liquefies) after several daysAutolysis (brain liquefies) after several days 4-6 Minutes of cardiac arrest 4-6 Minutes of cardiac arrest 6 hours?6 hours? 24 hours?24 hours?

(cardiac arrest => warm ischemia )(cardiac arrest => warm ischemia ) (warm ischemia = no oxygen or nutrient (warm ischemia = no oxygen or nutrient

at room temperature due to lack of blood at room temperature due to lack of blood flow) flow)

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ISCHEMIC DAMAGEISCHEMIC DAMAGE STROKE; Garcia, JH; 26:636 (1995) STROKE; Garcia, JH; 26:636 (1995)

Rats (warm ischemia)Rats (warm ischemia) No neuron necrosis after 2 hours warm ischemiaNo neuron necrosis after 2 hours warm ischemia Only after 6 hours more than 15% neurons necroticOnly after 6 hours more than 15% neurons necrotic

??? 4-6 minutes of warm ischemia ?????? 4-6 minutes of warm ischemia ??? Apoptosis (Cell Suicide) Apoptosis (Cell Suicide)

Irreversible path to self-destruction after 4-6 Irreversible path to self-destruction after 4-6 minutesminutes

Takes many hoursTakes many hours Cooling can slow or stop apoptosisCooling can slow or stop apoptosis Don’t decide cryonics is useless because of hours Don’t decide cryonics is useless because of hours

of ischemiaof ischemia

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ISCHEMIC DAMAGEISCHEMIC DAMAGE“No-Reflow”“No-Reflow”

BRAIN RESEARCH; Dawson,DA; 749:200 BRAIN RESEARCH; Dawson,DA; 749:200 (1997) (1997) Rats (warm ischemia)Rats (warm ischemia) Middle Cerebral Artery ClampedMiddle Cerebral Artery Clamped

71% normal flow after one hour occlusion71% normal flow after one hour occlusion 22% normal flow after four hours occlusion22% normal flow after four hours occlusion

Damage to blood vessels (blocked Damage to blood vessels (blocked capillaries?)capillaries?)

Poor perfusion of cryoprotectantPoor perfusion of cryoprotectant

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STANDBY TEAM STANDBY TEAM TO MINIMIZE ISCHEMIC TO MINIMIZE ISCHEMIC

DAMAGEDAMAGE AlcorAlcor Cryonics Institute/Suspended Cryonics Institute/Suspended

AnimationAnimation Funeral DirectorFuneral Director

Robert Ettinger for his wife MaeRobert Ettinger for his wife Mae Mutual Aid Cryonics VolunteersMutual Aid Cryonics Volunteers

Toronto Local Group -- Fall 2002Toronto Local Group -- Fall 2002 Family, Friends Family, Friends

Close family of father in 90s in CIClose family of father in 90s in CI

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STANDBY PROBLEMSTANDBY PROBLEM Less than 1/3 chance of getting standby when Less than 1/3 chance of getting standby when

diedie Standbys usually for cancer or AIDsStandbys usually for cancer or AIDs

Most people don’t die of cancer or AIDsMost people don’t die of cancer or AIDs Many cancer victims die at unpredictable timesMany cancer victims die at unpredictable times

Alarm System with GPS monitoring vital signsAlarm System with GPS monitoring vital signs Won’t be lying in bed for 3 days before you are foundWon’t be lying in bed for 3 days before you are found How long before the cryonics rescue team arrives?How long before the cryonics rescue team arrives?

24-hour surveillance by cryonics rescue team 24-hour surveillance by cryonics rescue team for lifefor life Costs thousands of dollars per dayCosts thousands of dollars per day May ruin your sex lifeMay ruin your sex life

Move near a cryonics organizationMove near a cryonics organization

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BRAIN BRAIN CRYOPRESERVATIONCRYOPRESERVATION

Damage or destruction ? How Damage or destruction ? How much ?much ?

How much risk ? How much cost ?How much risk ? How much cost ? Minimizing damage, minimizes Minimizing damage, minimizes

affordabilityaffordability Menu of choicesMenu of choices

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PRESERVATION = PRESERVATION = SURVIVALSURVIVAL

(words to live by)(words to live by) Stay alive as long as possibleStay alive as long as possible

Technology improves – better Technology improves – better cryopreservationcryopreservation

May avoid cryopreservation by May avoid cryopreservation by rejuvenationrejuvenation

Avoid dementiaAvoid dementia Be as wealthy as you can be to buy Be as wealthy as you can be to buy

the bestthe best Never say “die” Never say “die”