Jeremy Paxman donates brain

Famously brainy TV presenter bequeaths his grey matter to science

In a bid to further research into the cause of Parkinson’s disease, the Newsnight and University Challenge presenter, Jeremy Paxman has said that he will leave his brain to science.

'If you register to donate your brain, you can help find a cure. After all, it's not as if you'll be needing it yourself,’ said Paxman adding that his primary motive was to encourage other people to follow his example.

'There's currently no cure for Parkinson's which affects 120,000 people,' Paxman said in the Telegraph.

A new poll carried out for the Parkinson's Disease Society, who have a brain bank at London's Hammersmith Hospital, found 27% of people have not thought about donating their brain and only 7% were comfortable with the idea.

Around one in 500 people, including Mohammed Ali and Michael J Fox, is affected by the condition and scientists need more brains to help find a cure. Those with Parkinson's are encouraged to donate but experts also need brains from healthy people so they can compare their findings.

Other celebrities who have pledged their brains after death include Jane Asher, the president of the Parkinson's Disease Society whose brother-in-law has Parkinsons.

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