How does the Parkinson's UK Brain Bank work, and who can donate?

Becky Jones of Parkinson's UK said the charity-funded Brain Bank holds more than 1,600 pledged brains and sends tissue to researchers around the world. It also accepts brains from people who never had Parkinson's, because researchers need comparisons, sometimes within the same family, to spot genetic or lifestyle links. Jones said no current treatment slows or stops Parkinson's, but more candidates are in final-phase testing than ever before.

Neelam McGrath's mother Dee pledged her brain soon after her own diagnosis.
The family's letter after the donation listed four strands of brain research it will support, including MS.

▸In their words

“We still don't have any treatments that can slow or stop progression of Parkinson's,” Becky Jones · at 19:16 — open in the transcript →

Source: our own transcription of the episode. The full conversation is on Global News Podcast (2026-10-31). Read the whole episode summary →

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