What Happens In The Brain At The Time Of Death

What Happens In The Brain At The Time Of Death Within 20 to 40 seconds after the oxygen supply to the body is cut off, the brain goes into 'energy-saving mode'. In the brain, the flow of electrical signals becomes paralyzed and the neurons stop communicating with each other.

Scientists have been trying for a long time to find out exactly what happens to the brain at the time of death. However, this research did not go very far.

The biggest problem is that the chances of human death being closely examined do not match very well. In such a situation, the doctors are busy fighting to keep the patient alive.

As a result, as much research is being done by researchers or scientists on the process of brain death, it is being done on other common animals. Added to this is a description of the experiences of people returning from death.

 

However, a study on the human brain has shown that tsunami-like events occur in the brain at the time of death. This causes the death of one brain cell after another.

The study found that within 20 to 40 seconds of the body's oxygen supply being cut off, the brain goes into 'energy-saving mode'. In the brain, the flow of electrical signals becomes paralyzed and the neurons stop communicating with each other.

After a few minutes, the ion formation in the cell becomes random and the brain begins to break down. Simultaneously a wave of electrochemical energy spreads to other parts of the brain, including the cortex. Scientists call this wave spreading depolarization or brain tsunami. And this tsunami causes irreversible damage to the brain.

A team of scientists led by Jens Dreier, a neurologist at the German University of Medicine Berlin, observed the process in nine patients with severe brain injuries.

According to them, ways to stop this brain tsunami may be found in the future. The study was published in the journal Annals of Neurology.

"After the (oxygen) flow stops, the electrochemical energy stored in the brain through the depolarization wave decreases and a toxic process begins," says Dryer. This eventually led to brain death.

"The important thing is that it is possible to change the speed of this process up to a certain stage, and if this is done, the activity of the brain will return to normal."

This study identified the process of depolarization in the brains of patients using neural observation techniques such as subdural electrode strips and intraparenchymal electrode arrays.

As long as there is a flow of oxygen to the brain, the tsunami does not behave like a one-way destructive wave, scientists say.

In a related research article, scientists have hinted at the possibility of preventing brain death. "It is possible to reverse the depolarization that started due to the blockage of oxygen flow," he said. During depolarization, neurons begin to be destroyed. The beginning of this process is called the commitment point. If the supply of oxidative substrate can be restored at this time, it is possible to prevent brain death tsunami.

The study could save the lives of patients who are at risk of death or brain damage due to cerebral ischemia (loss of oxygen due to decreased blood flow) or any other type of stroke.

However, researchers say there is still much work to be done.

Dreyer says: 'This discovery does not affect the way patients are treated now. Acquiring a thorough knowledge of the process of depolarization is essential for the development of medical systems. And if that is possible, the level of nerve cell damage can be reduced as a result of disruption of blood circulation.