Jeremy Paxman to donate brain for study into Parkinson’s disease
source: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article6128920.ece
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- DonkeyPong
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The BBC Newsnight presenter and the actress are among celebrity supporters of a campaign launched this week by the Parkinson’s Disease Society to encourage more people to become brain donors.
Research into Parkinson’s is being held back by a shortage of brain tissue. Only 1,000 people in Britain have signed up to the charity’s brain donor register and it wants to double that number by the end of the year.
A YouGov poll for the charity found that while more than 60 per cent of people would be happy to give their heart or kidneys after they die, only 7 per cent are comfortable about the idea of donating their brain.
Ms Asher, whose brother-in-law has Parkinson’s, said: “I’ve visited the Parkinson’s Brain Bank and seen what fantastic work is going on there. Now we need a greater awareness of the benefits of brain donation so that more people come forward to register.
“Research on brains both with and without Parkinson’s is essential. It’s vital that we secure more potential donors as this will help us move closer to a cure.”
Research using donated tissue has led to important advances in the treatment of Parkinson’s, a condition that impairs motor skills and speech, and causes tremor and rigidity.
Steve Ford, the society’s chief executive, said: “In our 40th anniversary year, we want everyone to think about how they can support us in the search for a cure for Parkinson’s.”
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AnnieMole
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I agree with hereandnow - when you're gone, you're gone and there's not much point in holding onto your brain if you're without a hear & lungs, even if you think you'll need them in the "afterlife"
- 3 years ago
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AnnieMole
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hereandnow
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60% give away their heart and lungs and only 7% give their brain. You would think that if people where happy to give away their heart and their lungs they'd be the kind of people that wouldn't mind giving away any organ.
- 3 years ago
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hereandnow
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richjm
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Good for him. There's no point hanging on to something that's not much use to you after you're dead.
There's been lots of study into Einstein's brain since he died. The pathologist who performed his autopsy apparently removed it without anybody knowing as he thought it was too important to have cremated with the rest of the scientist's body.
In general, Einstein's brain was the same as average people's except in one particular area - the region responsible for mathematical thought and the ability to think in terms of space and movement.
Extensive development of this region meant that Einstein's brain was 15% wider than other brains studied.
- 3 years ago
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richjm
