I'll donate my brain to dementia research when I die, pledges Blunkett

Published on Monday 12 October 2009 22:07

FORMER Home Secretary David Blunkett has pledged to donate his brain to dementia research.

He was announcing his support for a new 2 million scheme calling on people to donate their brains for research when they die. Scientists from Brains for Dementia warned that a severe shortage of brain donations is leading to major delays in the search for a cure or treatments for dementia.

Mr Blunkett said yesterday: "I've pledged my brain tissue for research as I know how vital it is to defeat dementia. As vice-president of the Alzheimer's Society I have seen first-hand the devastating impact of this condition that affects 700,000 people in the UK.

"I hope to be using my brain for a good while longer yet, but I'm pleased to know that it may help people in the future when I no longer have need of it."

Dr Chris Morris, of Newcastle University's Newcastle Brain Tissue Resource, urged more people to pledge to donate their brain when they die.

He said: "Much of what we know about the brain, how it works and the treatments we currently have for dementia, comes from research on donated brain tissue. Brains from people without dementia are particularly important as they help us work out the difference between healthy older people and people with dementia."

People are currently failing to donate because of a lack of knowledge, research found.

A YouGov poll revealed that a third of 2,021 adults surveyed did not know it was possible to donate their brains for dementia research.

Brains for Dementia research brain bank network was launched today to help provide brains for research. It has centres in Newcastle, Cardiff, London, Manchester and Oxford.