1 00:00:01,840 --> 00:00:07,600 Speaker 1: Welcome to brain Stuff, a production of iHeartRadio. Hey brain Stuff, 2 00:00:07,680 --> 00:00:11,080 Speaker 1: Lauren Vogelbomb here with a classic episode from our archives. 3 00:00:11,720 --> 00:00:14,640 Speaker 1: But this one has to do with the incredible scientific 4 00:00:14,680 --> 00:00:20,640 Speaker 1: potential of your earthly remains, and specifically your brain. Here's 5 00:00:20,760 --> 00:00:26,560 Speaker 1: a basic guide to donating your brain to science. Hey 6 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:29,280 Speaker 1: brain Stuff, I'm Lauren Vogelbaum, and you don't have to 7 00:00:29,320 --> 00:00:31,280 Speaker 1: be sitting on a mountain of cash when you die. 8 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:33,440 Speaker 1: To leave a little something for your loved ones and 9 00:00:33,560 --> 00:00:36,880 Speaker 1: the rest of humanity, Researchers are looking for a few 10 00:00:37,400 --> 00:00:40,239 Speaker 1: or lots of good men and women to donate their 11 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:43,720 Speaker 1: brains to science. These gifts are key to research that 12 00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:46,280 Speaker 1: may change the way a wide range of ailments are treated, 13 00:00:46,520 --> 00:00:50,280 Speaker 1: including Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Of course, the idea of 14 00:00:50,320 --> 00:00:52,800 Speaker 1: having your organs picked over by strangers when the sun 15 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:55,040 Speaker 1: sets on your time here among the living is enough 16 00:00:55,080 --> 00:00:57,360 Speaker 1: to give some of us the willies. Here are a 17 00:00:57,400 --> 00:01:02,160 Speaker 1: few things you should know about donating your brain to science. Obviously, 18 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:04,560 Speaker 1: the decision to donate any body part is something that 19 00:01:04,600 --> 00:01:08,000 Speaker 1: you have to reach before you die, but it's also 20 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:10,600 Speaker 1: important that people know about your choice before you leave 21 00:01:10,600 --> 00:01:13,800 Speaker 1: this world. For whatever might come next. A brain donor's 22 00:01:13,800 --> 00:01:16,200 Speaker 1: body has to be refrigerated or the brain put on 23 00:01:16,280 --> 00:01:19,160 Speaker 1: ice within six hours of death, according to researchers at 24 00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:23,479 Speaker 1: Harvard University. But yes, you can still have an open 25 00:01:23,520 --> 00:01:25,520 Speaker 1: casket funeral if you decide to give the gift of 26 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:28,480 Speaker 1: your brain. After death, a person's face and hair are 27 00:01:28,520 --> 00:01:31,319 Speaker 1: not disturbed by the brain removal process, so your loved 28 00:01:31,319 --> 00:01:33,720 Speaker 1: ones are still able to have that one last look 29 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:38,000 Speaker 1: if that's your preferred funerary practice. However, be aware that 30 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 1: the procedure is not tax deductible. Sure, agreeing to give 31 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:44,000 Speaker 1: up your brain or any other organ too, science is 32 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:46,119 Speaker 1: one of the more charitable things a person can do, 33 00:01:46,319 --> 00:01:48,920 Speaker 1: but that doesn't mean it's treated as a charitable donation 34 00:01:49,080 --> 00:01:52,600 Speaker 1: for tax purposes. But you don't need to have a 35 00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:56,400 Speaker 1: brain ailment to participate in a donation program. Researchers want 36 00:01:56,400 --> 00:01:58,960 Speaker 1: access to healthy brains so they can compare tissue to 37 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:02,320 Speaker 1: those with various disease Jesus. By the way, the average 38 00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:05,080 Speaker 1: adult human brain weighs about three pounds that's one point 39 00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:07,840 Speaker 1: three to six kilograms, or about two percent of a 40 00:02:07,840 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 1: person's total body weight. If you decide to go ahead 41 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:14,360 Speaker 1: with brain donation. There are certain steps required to seal 42 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:17,240 Speaker 1: the deal. Designating yourself as an organ donor on your 43 00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:20,040 Speaker 1: driver's license alone does not give researchers the right to 44 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:23,120 Speaker 1: take your brain, but can send for Brain donation can 45 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:26,080 Speaker 1: be given by next of kin immediately following death. So 46 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:28,000 Speaker 1: if it's something you want to do, you should talk 47 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:30,360 Speaker 1: with your family and friends about it, share your wishes, 48 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:34,200 Speaker 1: and register beforehand to donate your brain. If you are interested, 49 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:37,240 Speaker 1: run a search for the Brain Donor Project. It's a 50 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:45,760 Speaker 1: great starting place for information and resources. Today's episode is 51 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:48,160 Speaker 1: based on the article five Things you Didn't Know about 52 00:02:48,160 --> 00:02:50,560 Speaker 1: donating your brain to science on how stuffworks dot Com, 53 00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:53,240 Speaker 1: written by Chris Opfer. Brain Stuff is production to by 54 00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:55,720 Speaker 1: Heart Radio in partnership with how stuffworks dot Com. It 55 00:02:55,760 --> 00:02:58,560 Speaker 1: is produced by Tyler Klang. Four more podcasts from my 56 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:01,720 Speaker 1: heart Radio, visit the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or 57 00:03:01,720 --> 00:03:03,560 Speaker 1: wherever you listen to your favorite shows.