More Brains Needed 232
Hugh Pickens writes "BBC reports that more people need to donate their brains to medical research if cures for diseases like dementia are to be found and are urging healthy people as well as those with brain disorders to become donors. 'For autism, we only have maybe 15 or 20 brains that have been donated that we can do our research on. That is drastically awful,' said Dr Payam Rezaie of the Neuropathology Research Laboratory at the Open University. 'We would need at least 100 cases to get meaningful data. A lot of research is being hindered by this restriction.' Part of the problem, according to Professor Margaret Esiri at the University of Oxford, may be that people are reluctant to donate their brains because they see the organ as the basis of their identity. 'It used to be other parts of the body that we thought were important,' says Esin. 'But now people realize that their brain is the crucial thing that gives them their mind and their self.' Dr Kieran Breen, of the Parkinson's Disease Society, said over 90% of the brains in their bank at Imperial College London were from patients, with the remaining 10% of 'healthy' brains donated by friends or relatives of patients. 'Some people are under the impression that if they sign up for a donor card that will include donating their brain for research. But it won't,' says Breen. 'Donor cards are about donating organs for transplant, not for medical science.'"
Over my dead body! (Score:5, Funny)
You can have my brain when you pry it from my cold, dead...
Oh wait.
won't someone THINK of the children!? (Score:4, Funny)
ie, I bet they have all the adult brains they need. how about some child brains?
"think of the children"
come on, kids. some of you are not using yours. can't you help the good cause out?
I gave at the office (Score:5, Funny)
It's not that I don't want to donate my brain, it's just that I've already promised other people that I would have my brain cryogenically frozen so that I can be resurrected at some point in the future, and I'd hate to let those people down.
Donor Cards (Score:5, Funny)
'Some people are under the impression that if they sign up for a donor card that will include donating their brain for research. But it won't,' says Breen. 'Donor cards are about donating organs for transplant, not for medical science.'"
Well to be honest, I have always kinda hoped that having my donor card would mean they might transplant my brain...
Re:Take Mine (Score:5, Funny)
I'm told I have shit for brains, so I'm donating mine to local gardening enthusiasts.
More Brains Needed (Score:3, Funny)
They certainly are. Unfortunately, the trend seems to be the in the other direction. Especially among politicians.
Re:Mmmm, Brains (Score:5, Funny)
The main problem I have with donating body parts for scientific research is that I don't want silly medical students using bits of me to play pranks on each other!
Are you kidding?! Biohazardous pranks are hilarious! How can you not donate to that cause?!
Who Knew??? (Score:4, Funny)
Medical Researchers were zombies? ANYONE???
Re:Many fear cost... (Score:3, Funny)
The only cost I've ever heard of is if you want to donate it to some far away medical school, you have to pay to transport it there. Other than that, it should be free.
Of course, I don't want to donate my body to medical science because I am uncomfortable with the idea of all those medical students laughing^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^Hstaring in awe at my junk.
Packing Instructions (Score:4, Funny)
And don't risk using UPS, since Sterling Courier Systems is the pathologist's preferred shipper.
Flawed assumptions (Score:4, Funny)
That's not necessarily true. For example, I do a lot of thinking with another part of my anatomy. Ask anyone.
Healthy as well as with brain disorders? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:I gave at the office (Score:4, Funny)
Obvious solution (Score:4, Funny)
Replace the removed brain with an electronic brain. A simple one would suffice. All it would have to do is say "What?" and "Where's the tea?"
Re:Doctors, Researchers, Get Your Brains, Quick! (Score:5, Funny)
Cooking Instructions? (Score:3, Funny)
They seem to be missing.
Re:Obvious solution (Score:3, Funny)
Replace the removed brain with an electronic brain. A simple one would suffice
A 6502 would be ideal.
Re:Just for the record (Score:3, Funny)
Well, If they can keep it alive outside your body, all the better it allow them in the future to put you in a robotic body with lasers and guns and you only malfunction when you start seeing your family.
Re:I gave at the office (Score:5, Funny)
I've already promised other people that I would have my brain cryogenically frozen so that I can be resurrected at some point in the future
Ah, you must be a Cobol programmer.
Re:No way (Score:5, Funny)
That's why I'm donating mine to 'Will it Blend?'.
Re:Many fear cost... (Score:3, Funny)
Are you sure it was "donating your body" and not "paying the mafia to take a dead body away?"
Re:Grow up (Score:4, Funny)
Get over the fact that the universe doesn't care about you and help science!
When you put it that way... fuck the universe, I'm keeping it!
Wait until they're dead (Score:4, Funny)
' Part of the problem, according to Professor Margaret Esiri at the University of Oxford, may be that people are reluctant to donate their brains because they see the organ as the basis of their identity.
I would have thought that they only accepted brain donations from families of people who have already died. Certainly donating your brain while you are still alive would have an effect on your identity. I would hope this practice stops.
Re:Over my dead body! (Score:3, Funny)
'Some people are under the impression that if they sign up for a donor card that will include donating their brain for research. But it won't,' says Breen.
Does anyone else feel a uncomfortable at just doing what Dr. Breen says?
Re:Over my dead body! (Score:5, Funny)
I suspect they'd be from inside heads.
Re:Grow up (Score:4, Funny)
It's not like your brain wont be rotting in the ground anyway.
Some people's brains are getting a head start on rotting.
Re:Over my dead body! (Score:5, Funny)
Naturally, the sources for those brains are not well publicized.
I suspect they'd be from inside heads.
Those are female brains then.
Re:I gave at the office (Score:2, Funny)
Not quite... [wikipedia.org]
Re:Easy option (Score:3, Funny)
I'm sure they could make an exception, like shooting at the gut. Sure, it's more painful and a slow way to die but if money is to be made then they should just suck it up for the greatness of their country.
Re:Over my dead body! (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Take Mine (Score:3, Funny)
I'm donating all my organs, but with a proviso that they use at least 70% and all to one recipient...
That way it's less of an organ donation, and more a hostile takeover...