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By Amy Geiszler-Jones

Courtesy Photo

Former Wichitan Dr. Bruce Price visited Mildred Schuler, who at 105 was WSU’s oldest living alum at the time, three years ago to ask her to donate her brain for research. Now, Schuler’s brain has the distinction of being the oldest in a Harvard brain bank, the largest in the world.

When former Wichitan Dr. Bruce Price asked 105-year-old Mildred Schuler, WSU’s oldest living alum at the time, if she would consider donating her brain to a Harvard brain bank, she gave one of her typical salty replies.

"When I pass on, I figure I won’t need it any more," she told him during their meeting three years ago.

"That was vintage Mildred Schuler," said Price. Price is chief of neurology at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Mass., a Harvard teaching hospital that maintains the largest brain bank in the world.

While Schuler held a unique distinction in life as the oldest alum of WSU’s predecessor, she now holds another place in history. Hers is the oldest brain among the more than 4,000 stored in formaldehyde-filled Rubbermaid containers at the Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center, which was founded in 1978.

Schuler passed away June 1, less than three months from what would have been her 109th birthday. A 1914 graduate of Fairmount College, Schuler was a creative, independent woman, having worked as an artist for various companies including The Wichita Eagle. She once quit a job rather than join a union.

She also had a nontraditional streak, embracing vegetarianism long before such a lifestyle became mainstream and studying astrology.

Those characteristics seem to have helped Schuler live her long life, according to Price. Price, whose father Dick is part of WSU’s athletics Shocker Hall of Fame, is also involved in another brain research project, the New England Centenarian Project which has about 20 brains older than 100.

When WSU celebrated its centennial during 1995-96, Schuler was very willing to be a part of the festivities.

"She was the star of our centennial kickoff (event)," said George Platt, who coordinated the centennial.

Shortly after those celebrations, Price had his first meeting with Schuler, during which he conducted the various tests used to identify potential donors with relatively good cognitive skills.

Jim Meyer

As WSU’s oldest alum, Mildred Schuler was the focus of media attention, including that of broadcaster Mike Oatman for a former television morning show, during a kickoff event for WSU’s centennial in 1995.

Schuler’s artwork often reflected a playful, whimsical attitude, and that attitude seems to be one key to her long life.

While scientists have yet to unlock the secret to longevity, one thing is fairly clear, Price said. "A cheerful, optimistic outlook on life is the most suitable to living to an old age."

The fact that her brain at nearly 109 years of age showed only mild arteriosclerosis "may have been because of her strict vegetarian diet," he said.

Her brain showed some signs of Alzheimer’s disease, which is fairly typical of centenarians, said Price. "In every other way, though, her brain was perfectly normal. If you could subtract the Alzheimer’s disease, her brain would be the envy of us all."

Just as Schuler helped give a first-hand account of life at Fairmount College when WSU celebrated its centennial, she’s helping to give insight into how the brain ages.

"She’ll continue to teach us for decades to come," Price said.