1 00:00:02,040 --> 00:00:07,160 Speaker 1: Welcome to brain Stuff from How Stuff Works. Hey, brain Stuff, 2 00:00:07,160 --> 00:00:09,680 Speaker 1: I'm Lauren Vogelbaum, and you don't have to be sitting 3 00:00:09,720 --> 00:00:11,680 Speaker 1: on a mountain of cash when you die. To leave 4 00:00:11,720 --> 00:00:13,920 Speaker 1: a little something for your loved ones and the rest 5 00:00:13,960 --> 00:00:18,040 Speaker 1: of humanity, researchers are looking for a few are lots 6 00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:21,400 Speaker 1: of good men and women to donate their brains to science. 7 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:24,400 Speaker 1: These gifts are key to research that may change the 8 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:27,560 Speaker 1: way a wide range of ailments are treated, including Alzheimer's 9 00:00:27,560 --> 00:00:30,760 Speaker 1: disease and dementia. Of course, the idea of having your 10 00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:33,199 Speaker 1: organs picked over by strangers when the sun sets on 11 00:00:33,240 --> 00:00:35,360 Speaker 1: your time here among the living is enough to give 12 00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:37,880 Speaker 1: some of us the willies. Here are a few things 13 00:00:37,880 --> 00:00:42,120 Speaker 1: you should know about donating your brain to science. Obviously, 14 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:44,680 Speaker 1: the decision to donate anybody part is something that you 15 00:00:44,760 --> 00:00:48,599 Speaker 1: have to reach before you die, but it's also important 16 00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:50,720 Speaker 1: that people know about your choice before you leave this 17 00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:54,080 Speaker 1: world for whatever might come next. A brain donor's body 18 00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:56,520 Speaker 1: has to be refrigerated or the brain put on ice 19 00:00:56,600 --> 00:00:59,560 Speaker 1: within six hours of death, according to researchers at Harvard 20 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:03,480 Speaker 1: Universe d. But yes, you can still have an open 21 00:01:03,480 --> 00:01:05,520 Speaker 1: casket funeral if you decide to give the gift of 22 00:01:05,520 --> 00:01:08,479 Speaker 1: your brain after death, a person's face and hair are 23 00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:11,360 Speaker 1: not disturbed by the brain removal process, so your loved 24 00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:13,720 Speaker 1: ones are still able to have that one last look 25 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:17,960 Speaker 1: if that's your preferred funerary practice. However, be aware that 26 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:21,600 Speaker 1: the procedure is not tax deductible. Sure, agreeing to give 27 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:24,039 Speaker 1: up your brain or any other organ to science is 28 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:26,080 Speaker 1: one of the more charitable things a person can do, 29 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:28,960 Speaker 1: but that doesn't mean it's treated as a charitable donation 30 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:32,600 Speaker 1: for tax purposes. But you don't need to have a 31 00:01:32,640 --> 00:01:36,400 Speaker 1: brain ailment to participate in a donation program. Researchers want 32 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:38,959 Speaker 1: access to healthy brains so they can compare tissue to 33 00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:42,640 Speaker 1: those with various diseases. By the way, the average adult 34 00:01:42,720 --> 00:01:45,320 Speaker 1: human brain weighs about three pounds that's one point three 35 00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:48,560 Speaker 1: six ms, or about two percent of a person's total 36 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:52,200 Speaker 1: body weight. If you decide to go ahead with brain donation, 37 00:01:52,320 --> 00:01:55,840 Speaker 1: there are certain steps required to seal the deal. Designating 38 00:01:55,840 --> 00:01:58,400 Speaker 1: yourself as an organ donor on your driver's license alone 39 00:01:58,480 --> 00:02:00,720 Speaker 1: does not give researchers the right to take your brain, 40 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:03,640 Speaker 1: but can sent for Brain donation can be given by 41 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:06,760 Speaker 1: next of kin immediately following death. So if it's something 42 00:02:06,800 --> 00:02:08,520 Speaker 1: you want to do, you should talk with your family 43 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:11,760 Speaker 1: and friends about it, share your wishes, and register beforehand 44 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:14,600 Speaker 1: to donate your brain. If you are interested, run a 45 00:02:14,639 --> 00:02:17,799 Speaker 1: search for the Brain Donor Project. It's a great starting 46 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:26,200 Speaker 1: place for information and resources. Today's episode was written by 47 00:02:26,240 --> 00:02:28,920 Speaker 1: Chris Opfer and produced by Tyler Clang. For more on 48 00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:31,480 Speaker 1: this and lots of other Brinkley topics, visit our home planet, 49 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:44,079 Speaker 1: how Stuff Works dot com.