Brain Restoration System

According to WedMD, brain death is defined as complete loss of function, which is different than a vegetative state. “The vegetative state is a clinical condition of complete unawareness of the self and the environment, accompanied by sleep-wake cycles, with either complete or partial preservation of hypothalamic and brainstem autonomic functions.” Complete loss of brain function can be caused by traumatic brain injury or even stroke. Professor Joseph Vukov presented a lecture on brain death. This lecture was based on understanding the definition of “death” and the benefits that can be used after the incident. Legally, a dead individual can be described as either irreversible cessation of circulatory and respiratory functions or irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain, including the brain stem.

According to US National Library of Medicine, the concepts and practices relating to death are influenced by our values and social practices. These definitions are what constitutes death but also questions of grieving, medical treatment, estate planning, organ donation, and a myriad of other legal and ethical issues. Dr. Vukov, explained that brain dead patients may look like they are breathing because of being attached to a ventilator. As an outsider, this may seem like the patient is still alive with medical equipment attached. Recovery from vegetative state is quite unlikely after 12 months and is rare in a non-traumatic injury. Case study presented by Dr. Vukov explained how a woman who was brain dead in a coma underwent puberty because of the medical equipment attached to her. The patient went through all hormonal change’s medical assistance. However, through the eyes of her family she was considered alive. Dr. Vukov explains that in order to fix this debate individuals must be aware of the terms legally. Understanding the concept of brain dead, and how certain organs can be used for organ donations. This is virtually a medical misunderstanding, because patients who are brain dead cannot function on their own such as breathing but may presumably look like they are. Today, this debate is still a rising issue. The article below talks about cell cultures and functionality of the brain after being death. However, there are many legal and medical issues with working dead objects. Both researchers describe how being educated in brain death can also be beneficial to others such as organ donations or other clinical work.

The article recognizes the cultivation of cell cultures to study the internal functionality of the brain after death. While utilizing a series of instruments to sustain and trick the brain into believing it is alive, the scientists at BrainEx have come up with a revolutionary method of digging into many things regarding the brain. This could propose the cures for various neurological disorders, diseases which attack the brain, etc. The only way to do so is to approach the brain and its activity before and during. Typically, case studies on Alzheimer’s and other diseases take place in the late stages of contracting it. The benefits reside on the ability to see where in the brain, proteins or other chemicals may attack. This tests ethic related motives and produces the issue on whether or not the brain is fully conscious during these procedures. However, there is no proof that there was any electrical activity justifying the brain being in a cognitive state. This may be possible due to the fact that there are neural activity blockers which may be hindering the brain’s ability to increase electrical activity. It is thought that this would maximize cellular recovery. Having an increased rate of electrical activity in the brain could potentially trigger neuron damage through excitotoxicity. These tests have currently been done on deceased pigs. Since this has worked, it is plausible to believe that utilizing this on a human with an active brain would work. This revolutionary marvel in the medical field is the key to solving so many issues faced in the world of neurological and pathological disorders. This research team contacted Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee at Yale, were told that the study “was not subject to animal welfare-protection guidelines. This is because the pigs were defined as already dead.” However, with more research the team would like to understand how long brains can be sustained this way. If the brains can be obtained for this long period then the team can change their direction to revive electrical function which would then, however, be in an ethical dilemma.

Farahany does question if “we can ever get EEG recovery?  What would be the limits and limitations if this could be tested on animals or humans. Such research can be first used in rodents by removing the chemicals that block electrical activity. Minimizing any risk of pain or distress would be appropriate, however the problem is that Farahany thinks of this as tissue research and it's no longer just clearly dead, but it’s just not alive either.

References

Rubin, R. (2014, January 03). What 'Brain-Dead' Means. Retrieved from

https://www.webmd.com/brain/news/20140103/brain-dead-faq#1

Medical Aspects of the Persistent Vegetative State | NEJM. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199405263302107

Makin, S. (2019, April 19). Brain Restoration System Explores Hazy Territory between

Being Dead or Alive. Retrieved from

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/brain-restoration-system-explores-

hazy-territory-between-being-dead-or-alive/

Vukov, Joseph. Loyola University Chicago Neuroscience Seminar. 2 April. 2019,

Chicago, Loyola University Chicago.