What do we know about epilepsy?
The neurological disorder is characterized by recurrent seizures
How brain donation can help epilepsy researchers
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures, of which there are many types and forms. The condition can affect people of all ages, and in the US, it is estimated that nearly 3.4 million people live with the disorder.
Seizures occur due to sudden, excessive electrical activity in the brain, and they can range from brief lapses in consciousness to intense convulsions or unusual sensations.
Causes of epilepsy can be diverse, including genetic factors, brain injury, stroke, infections, and developmental issues. However, sometimes the cause is unknown.
Treatment typically involves medication to control seizures, but in some cases, surgery, dietary changes, or other therapies may be considered. Management strategies aim to reduce the frequency and severity of seizures and to improve the quality of life for those affected.
Research on epilepsy continues to make significant strides in various areas. For example, advances in genetic research are identifying specific genetic mutations associated with different types of epilepsy that can aid in understanding the underlying causes and developing targeted therapies. Research into gene-editing techniques like CRISPR is exploring potential ways to correct genetic abnormalities responsible for epilepsy.
But by studying donated brain tissue from people who had epilepsy, researchers can investigate the underlying mechanisms that cause seizures that may lead to better diagnostic tools and treatments.
Brain donation is a crucial component of advancing epilepsy research, leading to better treatments, improved diagnostic methods, and ultimately, a better quality of life for individuals with epilepsy.
Consider donating your brain to neuroscience research to help future generations
Here’s how it works:
Register In Advance
Complete the online form here. Your brain bank will send consent forms and request additional information directly from you.
Inform Your Loved Ones
Talk about your decision and desire to donate your brain to neuroscience when you pass. Your family will need to play an important role in ensuring your wishes are carried out promptly.Notify Your Brain Bank
Your family will contact the brain bank immediately upon your death. The brain bank will make arrangements for the brain to be removed (respectfully from the back of the head so it is not disfiguring) typically at the family’s funeral home. There is no cost to the family.
Benefit From Your Gift
If requested your family may receive a Summary of Neuropathological findings about your brain. Even more importantly, so many families tell us it helps them heal knowing that science will be advanced with this valuable brain tissue.
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Common Questions
How can brain donation help those suffering from epilepsy?
Breakthroughs in brain disease depend on studies using donated post-mortem human brain tissue. Since one brain can provide tissue for dozens – sometimes hundreds – of neurological studies, an individual brain donation is a highly valuable gift that almost anyone can make.
Do I need to have a brain disorder, like epilepsy, to donate my brain?
No. To ensure research is thorough, it is extremely important that scientists have access to donated brain tissue from people who did not have brain diseases. This is known as control tissue and it is crucial that scientists compare it directly with tissue from a person with a neurological diagnosis to determine differences. In other words, non-diseased brains are extremely valuable to neuroscientists as they must be part of every study.
I’m already an organ donor. Does this include my brain?
No. Organ donation and brain donation are separate matters. An organ donor designation on a driver’s license does not include brain donation. Depending on the circumstances of death, it may be possible to donate organs for transplant as well as the brain for scientific research. If this is the case, the recovery teams will coordinate so that both kinds of donations can take place. Separate registrations for both organ donation and brain donation should be completed, if the intention is to donate both.