Could YOU donate your brain to science?
Researchers at Cardiff University are looking for brains
© Shutterstock
LIFESTYLE brain
Researchers at Cardiff University are looking for brains. They claim that donating brains will help in researching dementia. They’re not actively recruiting, but are looking for undiagnosed pensioners over the age of 85. The researchers have claimed that both healthy brains and those with dementia are both valuable, for comparison. It may sound a little odd, but it’s been in practice since 2009. 460 have signed up since then, with BBC News reporting that 79 successful donations have been made to the project.
Research assistant Rachel Marshall reached out to the BBC to give more details. She admitted that it’s not the most attractive invitation, yet it’s a “vital research tool” when looking at dementia. “Research using brain tissue is really, really valuable” she told BBC News, “You can look at other research models [...] but looking at the actual physical human tissue is invaluable”.
For more information on Brains for Dementia Research, visit their website.