Alzheimer’s in the News in Sri Lanka, “Brain Bank” at Sri Jayawardenepura University

Updated on October 22, 2025
by lexch

The Interdisciplinary Center for Innovation in Biotechnology and Neuroscience, under the leadership of Professor Ranil de Silva, working closely with several international partners, has established the first Sri Lankan “Brain Bank” in order to study the epidemiological, genetic and neuropathology associated with diseases such as Alzheimer’s and strokes.

76 Sri Lankan and 50 Indian cadaveric brain and blood samples were collected and scrutinized with molecular genetic techniques and detailed case histories were obtained from relatives about the deceased patient’s lifestyles. Some interesting findings which confirm previously held beliefs are that there is a strong contribution of hypertension and diabetes in stroke and AD, as well as a strong association between illiteracy and risk of brain degeneration. (if you don’t use it you lose it).

This work was featured in the Sunday Times in Sri Lanka: http://www.sundaytimes.lk/161106/news/research-on-brain-diseases-lanka-in-front-216122.html The Sri Lankan Brain Bank joins one of only a few Asian Banks (India, China, Japan), the majority being in Europe, America and Australia. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, Vol54, Number 4, 2016. 1607-1618 Current Alzheimer’s Research. Vol 13, Number 3, March 2016, 268-280 SUPPORT GROUPS The Lanka Alzheimer’s Foundation under the leadership of Lorraine Yu is a community based charity run by a group of dedicated volunteers. They hold activities and workshops a couple of times a week in order to provide respite for care givers, and mental therapy/stimulation for patients. They are an invaluable resource for many families in Colombo living with Alzheimer’s. www.alzlanka.org

– Ramona Rajapakse, MD