Find the foundations associated with your condition.
So you go to [your condition’s version of] the various large foundations. See what ones do research. Reach out to those ones, ask if they have life cycle research happening; that you’re willing to comply with research and donate your brain for study. Some may be in depth and want regular imaging and you to use specific doctors. Some may just want to get a medical history that they try and keep complete and then not see you again until you pass. Usually the reputable scales with the renown of the foundation and the medical facility it’s affiliated with; for example, there are two Alzheimer’s studies here in Chicago with Rush and Northwestern. I forget which organization is working with which, but again some big names there. Very reputable! Doing amazing work, and the one at Rush I believe is almost finished. I will get to read the findings from the donors I’ve brought there (mixed in with all the others, of course) one day.
I guarantee there are similar studies happening for various forms of epilepsy.
You can also probably donate as a cadaver; a major part of gross anatomy lab is so doctors understand that the real body they treat sometimes only barely bears passing resemblance to its illustrations, and an internal “missing” part may not, therefore, disqualify you. Just like people with no appendix can still donate.
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u/korewednesday May 06 '26
Here’s how to help do that:
Find the foundations associated with your condition.
So you go to [your condition’s version of] the various large foundations. See what ones do research. Reach out to those ones, ask if they have life cycle research happening; that you’re willing to comply with research and donate your brain for study. Some may be in depth and want regular imaging and you to use specific doctors. Some may just want to get a medical history that they try and keep complete and then not see you again until you pass. Usually the reputable scales with the renown of the foundation and the medical facility it’s affiliated with; for example, there are two Alzheimer’s studies here in Chicago with Rush and Northwestern. I forget which organization is working with which, but again some big names there. Very reputable! Doing amazing work, and the one at Rush I believe is almost finished. I will get to read the findings from the donors I’ve brought there (mixed in with all the others, of course) one day.
I guarantee there are similar studies happening for various forms of epilepsy.
You can also probably donate as a cadaver; a major part of gross anatomy lab is so doctors understand that the real body they treat sometimes only barely bears passing resemblance to its illustrations, and an internal “missing” part may not, therefore, disqualify you. Just like people with no appendix can still donate.