'It was an easy decision': Man donates part of his brain to help find cure for dementia

I've donated part of my brain to help find a cure for dementia4 days agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleIona YoungBBC Scotland NewsAidan McAllisterAidan's grandfather died from dementia in 2020A man with a terminal cancer diagnosis has donated part of his brain to researchers working to cure dementia, after watching his grandfather "disappear" as a result of the disease. Aidan McAllister, from Buckhaven in Fife, was told last year that his life would be cut short by a brain tumour. But when the 28-year-old learned he would need surgery to remove the growth, he gave permission for doctors to take part of his healthy brain matter to use for dementia research. It was used in a programme which involves keeping living human brain tissue alive for study in the laboratory.It has been spearheaded by neurosurgeon Paul Brennan, of NHS Lothian's department of clinical neurosciences, and Race Against Dementia Fellow Dr Claire Durrant of the University of Edinburgh. More stories from Edinburgh, Fife & EastMore stories from ScotlandAidan told BBC Radio Scotland Breakfast that it was a "really easy decision" to agree to donate part of his brain matter. "I was getting the craniotomy anyway so they could get the tumour, and to get to the tumour they have to drill a hole," he said."They also have to go through healthy brain tissue to get there so they will just take it while they are accessing the tumour."I think they just took about half the size of my pinky and it hasn't impacted me at all."Since having surgery to remove as much of the tumour as possible, he has undergone chemotherapy and radiotherapy.Aidan McAllisterAidan is now undergoing chemotherapyContributing to research felt personal for the healthcare worker after his grandfather died from dementia in 2020."My grandad, Thomas, was a big strong man." Aidan said. "He was a miner and to watch him disappear because of the disease was quite ha...