Congressman Blumenauer, Fitzpatrick Introduce Resolution to Recognize Brain Donation Awareness Day as May 7th
WASHINGTON, DC– Today, Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) introduced a joint resolution to designate May 7th as Brain Donation Awareness Day. Post-mortem brain donation is critically important to advance the science of treating and curing degenerative brain diseases.
"Brain donations provide a rare research opportunity for cognitive scientists to physically study the human brain. This is one key to learning how to treat and prevent neurodegenerative diseases like Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's and other cognitive diseases and disorders," said Rep. Earl Blumenauer, the Co-Chair of the Congressional Neuroscience Caucus. "Unlike other forms of organ donation, brain donors are used solely for research and medical advances. It is important we raise awareness of the need for brain donors."
"More than one million adults in the United States are diagnosed with a chronic brain disease or disorder each year, and we expect to see an increase of neurodegenerative disease in the coming years, especially among our aging population," said Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick. "It is critical we raise awareness for the crucial need for brain research and donation, and that is why I am proud to support this resolution to recognize May 7th as Brain Donation Awareness Day."
"Almost 100 million Americans are impacted by brain diseases and disorders. Groundbreaking scientific research through the National Institutes of Health and the BRAIN Initiative is bringing us closer to treating and curing these conditions, and much more is needed. Brain donation gives researchers around the world irreplaceable opportunities for pathbreaking discoveries for treatments and cures, by studying the brains from people who had neurodegenerative diseases or healthy brains," said Matthew Rizzo, MD, Chair American Brain Coalition. "The American Brain Coalition is pleased to support this resolution recognizing Brain Awareness Day to demonstrate the vital importance of brain donation."
"Nearly one in five of us has a neurologic disorder and our chances of getting one increase as we age. Neuroscience researchers tell us there is no substitute for human brain tissue when it comes to studying brain diseases and disorders. For all of these reasons, it is so important that we educate on this critical need, dispel the myths about brain donation and make the process as simple as possible for people to be able to donate their brain when they die," said Tish Hevel, CEO of The Brain Donor Project. "We are very grateful to Rep. Blumenauer and to all who have signed on in support of this resolution. National Brain Donor Awareness Day is just one more small step to help us meet this critical need for science."