PDS launches Parkinson's Brain Donor Appeal
20 April 2009
To mark Parkinson's Awareness Week 2009
(20-26 April), the Parkinson's Disease Society (PDS) has launched a
nationwide appeal for people to pledge to donate their brains for
Parkinson's research.
We call on people with or without Parkinson's to sign up to the
Parkinson's Brain Donor Register and help scientists progress
closer to a cure.
Request a Parkinson's Brain Donor
Register information pack
Desperate need for more donors
Researchers face a desperate shortage of brains that are required
for essential research.
By the end of 2009, we want to double the number of people on the
Parkinson's Brain Donor Register. Over 1,000 people have already
signed up.
Research using donated human brain tissue has led to important
medical breakthroughs such as the development of anti-Parkinson's
drugs.
Well known supporters
Jane Asher, President of the Parkinson's Disease Society, Jeremy
Paxman and John Stapleton are among a number of well known Parkinson's Brain Donor
Appeal supporters
Jane Asher, whose brother-in-law has Parkinson's, said:
"I've visited the Parkinson's Brain Bank and seen what fantastic
work is going on there.
"It's vital that we secure more potential donors as this will help
us move closer to a cure for what can be a debilitating and
distressing condition."
Watch Jane Asher's visit to the
Parkinson's Brain Bank 
What people think about brain donation
According to new research from YouGov commissioned by the
Parkinson's Disease Society, the general public has misconceptions
about brain donation, with only 27% having considered it.
In Great Britain:
- 63% are comfortable donating a heart.
- 65% are comfortable donating a kidney.
- 7% of adults are comfortable with the idea of brain
donation.
- 26% of people are worried about causing distress to their
family.
The survey also revealed that one in three people (29%) knows
someone affected by Parkinson's.
Sign up for the Parkinson's Brain Donor Register
Request a Parkinson's Brain Donor
Register information pack. This contains detailed
information for you and your relatives as well as consent forms and
medical information sheets.
For more information, visit our Parkinson's Brain Bank
pages.
Request an information pack by phone on 0808 800 0303 or email
pdbank@imperial.ac.uk
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