Archive
October 2, 2024
Blogs
Reducing the Stigma of Mental Illness: Mental Illness Awareness Week
As we kick off Mental Illness Awareness Week (October 6 – 12,) we support NAMI’s efforts to eliminate the stigma of mental illness at home, in our communities and in the workplace.
Read moreOctober 2, 2024
Blogs
Traumatic Brain Injuries: An Incomplete Picture
It’s surprising to us that most of the people who report TBI when they make plans to donate their brain are women.
Read moreOctober 2, 2024
Blogs
What Happens After Your Brain Is Donated?
We share the steps that occur after a brain is donated.
Read moreAugust 8, 2024
Blogs
Managing brain donation plans over time
There are certain things those who’ve already registered can do to make sure everything is in place when the time comes. Here are some tips.
Read moreAugust 2, 2024
Blogs
What is a Medical Power of Attorney and why should I consider one?
There are important reasons to make sure you have a medical power of attorney in place.
Read moreJuly 8, 2024
Blogs
Your Brain Holds Secrets. Scientists Want to Find Them.
Many Americans plan to donate their organs for transplants or their bodies for medical science but there is a need for their brains, too.
Read moreMay 30, 2024
Blogs
Mental Illness and Brain Donation: An Interview with Joshua A. Gordon
The Brain Donor Project recently had the honor of a one-on-one conversation with Dr. Joshua A. Gordon, Director of the National Institute of Mental Health. Since May is National Mental Health Awareness Month, we wanted to know how the science of severe mental illness is advancing…and we wanted to make sure that brain donation is helping.
Read moreFebruary 7, 2024
Blogs
Honoring Caregivers
Honoring Caregivers on National Caregivers' Day...and always
Read moreNovember 2, 2023
Blogs
Advances in Epilepsy Research
In recognition of June’s Alzheimer’s Disease and Brain Health month, consider these facts about brain donation by a loved one with AD.
Read moreMarch 29, 2023
Blogs
April is Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month
A million or so Americans have PD, and as we’re living longer than ever, it’s prevalence will only increase. Here's what you can do.
Read moreMarch 13, 2023
Blogs
Brain Awareness Week: Brain Breakthroughs Needed
It’s Brain Awareness Week, as declared by our friends at the Dana Foundation, and a great reason to stop and consider the importance of the single most valuable organ we have.
Read moreMarch 1, 2023
Blogs
Help Us Share Your Story
Do you think your story could help others feel compelled to consider brain donation? If so, please drop us a quick note about the best way to reach you. Thank you for considering sharing your story.
Read moreMarch 1, 2023
Blogs
Spotlight on Rare Disease Week
The last week of February is an important one to us at The Brain Donor Project. It’s Rare Disease Week – when the spotlight is on better ways to diagnose, treat and cure diseases that affect a smaller amount of people.
Read moreJune 16, 2022
Blogs
Authority Magazine: Why & How Tish Hevel of the Brain Donor Project is Helping To Change Our World
Tish talks with Yitzi Weiner as part of his series, Social Impact Heroes, for Authority Magazine, about the Brain Donor Project
Read moreMay 2, 2022
Blogs
National Brain Donation Awareness Day: 5/7
On April 28, 2022, Congressman Blumenauer and Rep. Fitzpatrick introduced a joint resolution to designate May 7th as Brain Donation Awareness Day. This is a major milestone for us – one that we hope will have a great impact on science.
Read moreApril 14, 2022
Blogs
5 Myths About Brain Donation
If you’re like most people, there are certain things about brain donation that you may think you know. Partly because they may be logical assumptions and partly because it may be a little awkward to discuss. Here are the five biggest issues that come up.
Read moreMarch 18, 2022
Blogs
Congressional Briefing Recap
On Tuesday March 8th, we’ll be making our case that Congress should declare a National Brain Donation Awareness Day to ensure that neuroscientists have what they need to cure brain disease.
Read moreMarch 1, 2022
Blogs
BDP Joins ABC to Deliver Congressional Briefing
On Tuesday March 8th, we’ll be making our case that Congress should declare a National Brain Donation Awareness Day to ensure that neuroscientists have what they need to cure brain disease.
Read moreFebruary 4, 2022
Blogs
Science Friday Webinar (Feb. 1, 2022) Q&A
The Brain Donor Project Founder and CEO Tish Hevel recently participated in a live webinar with Ira Flatow, host of Science Friday. Unfortunately, there wasn’t time to answer all the questions that came in via chat, so we’ve compiled and answered them all here.
Read moreJune 24, 2021
Blogs
Cheers to The RLS Foundation and the Alzheimer’s Association
The Restless Legs Foundation is laser focused on advancing the science of that disease. We shared a presentation about brain donation with the organization and about 85 members of its community back in March.
Read moreJune 24, 2021
Blogs
Science Can’t Thank You Enough…
When we get a chance to talk with these future donors, the sentiment is nearly universal – if it saves one family from suffering with the terrible disease that’s impacting their own family, people are happy to do it.
Read moreJune 7, 2021
Blogs
Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month
An aging parent presents certain complications in every family. And when that person begins forgetting details, repeating the same questions, or having trouble with simple tasks, a frightening question begins to emerge. When is it normal signs of aging and when is it dementia?
Read moreApril 30, 2021
Blogs
Someone you care about is struggling with mental illness – and science needs answers
With one in five people suffering from some kind of mental health issue, the answers for how to prevent, treat and cure these disorders simply cannot come fast enough. Add in the stressors of the past year, and it’s easy to see how critically help is needed. Since May is Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re […]
Read moreAugust 26, 2020
Blogs
What the Pandemic is Shouting at Us
Among the things that COVID has slapped us in the face about is the flat-out necessity of solid medical research and its power to keep our planet spinning the way it’s supposed to. What can you do about it? How do you feel about an easy action that nearly everyone can take to provide a precious resource for medical research?
Read moreNovember 6, 2019
Blogs
Lessons From a Boy and his Monkey
A year ago at this time a yellow magazine cover bearing the photo of a little boy with a monkey on his head suddenly appeared and made one heck of a mark on The Brain Donor Project.
Read moreOctober 15, 2019
Blogs
They’re the reason we’re in the science of supporting science
Ever feel like you need your faith in humanity restored? Wondering what brilliance is percolating in the minds of our youth? Desperately hoping that intelligent people will discover medical breakthroughs to solve the leading cause of disability in the U.S?
Read moreOctober 8, 2019
Blogs
A Salute To Those Whose Brains Are Going Places
Three years ago, in October of 2016, The Brain Donor Project began operating to make sure people know about the critical need for people to donate their brains to neuroscience when they die.
Read moreNovember 2, 2018
Blogs, Donor Stories
An Unexpected Positive
Kathy McKenzie said a final goodbye to her husband Michael on December 5, 2017. She had taken care of him as he suffered through Parkinson’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia for more than ten years.
Read moreMarch 9, 2018
Blogs
Scientists Identify Urgent Need For PD Brain Donation
It’s no secret that scientists these days are coming at Parkinson’s Disease with everything they have—including enhanced brain imaging technologies, advancements in the search for biomarkers and a better understanding of the role played by alpha-synuclein.
Read moreJune 26, 2017
Blogs
When Show and Tell Gets Real
I owe a lot to someone I’ve never met. He’s gone now…but he lived to be 101 years old and was said to be very astute up until the time he died. His brain turned out to be slightly larger and showing fewer signs of deterioration than a typical person his age, and there’s probably […]
Read moreApril 24, 2017
Blogs
Hellooooooo Wyoming!
Here we are six months into folks signing up to donate their brains when they die through the Brain Donor Project – and the results have been pretty phenomenal: We’ve heard from people who suffer from 40 different categories of neurological diseases and disorders. Those with autism, essential tremor, dementia, mental illness, ME/CFS, epilepsy, ataxia, […]
Read moreMarch 16, 2017
Blogs, Donor Stories
“It’s taught me a new level of compassion”
The Brain Donor Project is featuring stories during this Brain Awareness Week of those who’ll donate their brain to neurologic research when they die. For some, it is highly personal, inspired by someone they love. For many, it’s a natural way to leave a gift at the end of their life. In our minds’ eye […]
Read moreMarch 15, 2017
Blogs, Donor Stories
A Career of Caring Leads to a Love of Research
The Brain Donor Project is featuring stories during this Brain Awareness Week of those who’ll donate their brain to neurologic research when they die. For some, it is highly personal, inspired by someone they love. For many, it’s a natural way to leave a gift at the end of their life. In our minds’ eye […]
Read moreMarch 14, 2017
Blogs, Donor Stories
“Please seriously consider it—you don’t need it anymore”
The Brain Donor Project is featuring stories during this Brain Awareness Week of those who’ll donate their brain to neurologic research when they die. For some, it is highly personal, inspired by someone they love. For many, it’s a natural way to leave a gift at the end of their life. In our minds’ eye […]
Read moreMarch 13, 2017
Blogs, Donor Stories
“I knew things were going to end badly—I just didn’t know how”
The Brain Donor Project is featuring stories during this Brain Awareness Week of those who’ll donate their brain to neurologic research when they die. For some, it is highly personal, inspired by someone they love. For many, it’s a natural way to leave a gift at the end of their life. In our minds’ eye […]
Read moreMarch 2, 2017
Blogs
Help Solve this Critical Conundrum
Try this one on for size – one day you wake up exhausted after a full night’s sleep, notice a few more aches and pains than normal, and mentally things are just not clicking. Over time, it doesn’t get any better. There are headaches, some severe ones, and an on-and-off sore throat. Could be a […]
Read moreJanuary 24, 2017
Blogs
They’re Just Like Us
So we’re off to a strong start at The Brain Donor Project – in 2016, brain donors across the age spectrum signed up in cities all across the country. They represent a number of the most pervasive brain diseases…and some that aren’t. This is great news. It’s critical for scientific investigations that the supply of brain […]
Read moreDecember 13, 2016
Blogs
Collaborating For Cures
President Obama this week signed the long-awaited the 21st Century Cures Act into law. It’s a $6.3 billion dollar piece of legislation that was recently passed by both the House and Senate after two years of revisions and some very heavy lobbying. It will fund some key priorities including the President’s Brain Research through Advancing […]
Read moreNovember 15, 2016
Blogs, Donor Stories
I’m Doing it For Her
The following post was written by a father who chooses to remain anonymous. His decision to donate his brain was inspired by his daughter who had to wait way too long for a diagnosis. Neurological research using donated brain tissue will make a difference. From an early age my daughter was unique. She showed her […]
Read moreNovember 2, 2016
Blogs
Why Football Makes Me Sad
I’m starting to feel bad about football. Ever since my brothers and my dad helped me begin to understand the game, I’ve loved watching football. Tried to learn more and more so I could appreciate the nuances – I still ask probably too many questions between plays – but I truly enjoy hangin’ with the […]
Read moreOctober 3, 2016
Blogs
5 Reasons
Human post-mortem brain donation is getting more attention as professional football players and racecar drivers make public their decisions to donate, to find answers about the long-term effects of brain injury. They’re not the only ones whose brains have value for researchers. Here are five solid reasons you may not know about, for anyone to […]
Read moreOctober 3, 2016
Blogs
Something Good
There are certain words we say to each other to try and provide some comfort when a loved one dies. They’ve become pretty cliché, actually. Please accept my condolences. At least he or she is not suffering anymore. He or she is in a better place. That last one really tripped up my dad when […]
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