X-Message-Number: 2516
From: whscad1!kqb (Kevin Q Brown +1 201 386 7344)
Subject: CRYONICS Brain Banks

The Tue. Jan. 4 issue of the Wall Street Journal had a front page
article with the title:
    Gray-Matter Matter: So Many Scientists, So Few Fresh Brains
and subtitle:
    Short on Deposits, Brain Banks
        Wage Constant Campaign
            To Entice New Donors

The brain bankers mentioned in the article are most interested in getting
brains for research in brain-related diseases (such as Parkinsons and
Alzheimers).  Like cryonics organizations, though, they need fresh brains.
They need them within six, or twelve, hours of death, depending on
who you ask.  Good cryonic suspension requires reaching the patient
much faster than that; six or twelve hours would be *way* too long!
Also, just as one can't be both a cryonics patient and an organ donor
(due to conflicting priorities, protocols, etc.), one often can't
be both a traditional organ donor and also a brain donor
(due to conflicting priorities, protocols, etc.).

My favorite quote was:

  "Most people who've contributed are visionaries,"
  says Dr. Mash of the Miami bank.

Of course, the article didn't mention the visionaries who sign up
for cryonic suspension to "contribute" their brains (and bodies)
for a much different research project!

The article also notes a clever bumper sticker:
    Research Takes Brains 1-800-BRAIN-BANK
If you want a cryonic suspension, though, don't call it!  :-)

                              Kevin Q. Brown
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