Please note...

My post is about brain
banks so if anyone might
find that distressing in
any way, please
don't continue
reading
my post.

thanks,
Lara.

_______


Something else I was thinking about that I didn't mention the other day... It might seem morbid talking about all this but I just wanted to mention the Brain Bank.

The Tourette Syndrome Association, U.S.A., for example, has information for people who might wish to make the very personal decision of donating to the Brain Bank in the interests of research. This is called the TSA Brain Bank Program. I know this is different from organ donation from a person to another person, but it is something people don't always realize is possible.

In recent years there has been a fair bit of research looking into the similarities between tic disorders and Sydenham's Chorea (a condition that affects movement of the body in some people following Rheumatic Fever). One of the problems with some of this research is that conditions like Sydenham's Chorea are not as common in this day and age as they used to be say pre 1950's, so basically there is very little actual brain tissue which can be used for research. That's just one example I was thinking about, but there are many more.

I am aware of a number of other organizations and associations who have similar programmes running similar to the one with the TSA-USA. There are obviously many ways we can all participate in research while we're living, but I just wanted to mention the brain bank as I know it's something that had never crossed my mind (excuse the reference) until I learned about it via a health organization.

There is also more information at The Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Centre