WEBVTT - BrainStuff Classics: How Can I Donate My Brain to Science?

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome to brain Stuff, a production of iHeartRadio. Hey brain Stuff,

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<v Speaker 1>Lauren Vogelbomb here with a classic episode from our archives.

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<v Speaker 1>But this one has to do with the incredible scientific

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<v Speaker 1>potential of your earthly remains, and specifically your brain. Here's

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<v Speaker 1>a basic guide to donating your brain to science. Hey

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<v Speaker 1>brain Stuff, I'm Lauren Vogelbaum, and you don't have to

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<v Speaker 1>be sitting on a mountain of cash when you die.

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<v Speaker 1>To leave a little something for your loved ones and

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<v Speaker 1>the rest of humanity, Researchers are looking for a few

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<v Speaker 1>or lots of good men and women to donate their

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<v Speaker 1>brains to science. These gifts are key to research that

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<v Speaker 1>may change the way a wide range of ailments are treated,

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<v Speaker 1>including Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Of course, the idea of

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<v Speaker 1>having your organs picked over by strangers when the sun

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<v Speaker 1>sets on your time here among the living is enough

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<v Speaker 1>to give some of us the willies. Here are a

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<v Speaker 1>few things you should know about donating your brain to science. Obviously,

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<v Speaker 1>the decision to donate any body part is something that

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<v Speaker 1>you have to reach before you die, but it's also

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<v Speaker 1>important that people know about your choice before you leave

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<v Speaker 1>this world. For whatever might come next. A brain donor's

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<v Speaker 1>body has to be refrigerated or the brain put on

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<v Speaker 1>ice within six hours of death, according to researchers at

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<v Speaker 1>Harvard University. But yes, you can still have an open

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<v Speaker 1>casket funeral if you decide to give the gift of

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<v Speaker 1>your brain. After death, a person's face and hair are

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<v Speaker 1>not disturbed by the brain removal process, so your loved

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<v Speaker 1>ones are still able to have that one last look

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<v Speaker 1>if that's your preferred funerary practice. However, be aware that

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<v Speaker 1>the procedure is not tax deductible. Sure, agreeing to give

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<v Speaker 1>up your brain or any other organ too, science is

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<v Speaker 1>one of the more charitable things a person can do,

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<v Speaker 1>but that doesn't mean it's treated as a charitable donation

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<v Speaker 1>for tax purposes. But you don't need to have a

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<v Speaker 1>brain ailment to participate in a donation program. Researchers want

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<v Speaker 1>access to healthy brains so they can compare tissue to

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<v Speaker 1>those with various disease Jesus. By the way, the average

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<v Speaker 1>adult human brain weighs about three pounds that's one point

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<v Speaker 1>three to six kilograms, or about two percent of a

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<v Speaker 1>person's total body weight. If you decide to go ahead

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<v Speaker 1>with brain donation. There are certain steps required to seal

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<v Speaker 1>the deal. Designating yourself as an organ donor on your

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<v Speaker 1>driver's license alone does not give researchers the right to

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<v Speaker 1>take your brain, but can send for Brain donation can

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<v Speaker 1>be given by next of kin immediately following death. So

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<v Speaker 1>if it's something you want to do, you should talk

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<v Speaker 1>with your family and friends about it, share your wishes,

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<v Speaker 1>and register beforehand to donate your brain. If you are interested,

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<v Speaker 1>run a search for the Brain Donor Project. It's a

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<v Speaker 1>great starting place for information and resources. Today's episode is

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<v Speaker 1>based on the article five Things you Didn't Know about

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<v Speaker 1>donating your brain to science on how stuffworks dot Com,

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<v Speaker 1>written by Chris Opfer. Brain Stuff is production to by

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<v Speaker 1>Heart Radio in partnership with how stuffworks dot Com. It

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<v Speaker 1>is produced by Tyler Klang. Four more podcasts from my

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<v Speaker 1>heart Radio, visit the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or

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<v Speaker 1>wherever you listen to your favorite shows.