Thunderbirds creator donates brain to dementia research

Thunderbirds creator Gerry Anderson has donated his brain to dementia research.

He arrived at the decision with his son and wife while discussing his battle against the disease and was made aware of the Brains for Dementia Research project through his work fundraising for the Alzheimer's Society.

The Daily Telegraph reports that Mr Anderson repeatedly told his son that his brain should be donated to medical science, in the hope a cure for dementia can be found.

Dr Gillian Hayes of Brains for Dementia Research explains that the Alzheimer's drugs available today are the result of human brain research undertaken in the 1970s.

"Cancer research has come on leaps and bounds, simply because the tissue is readily available. Unless we have the material, people can’t do the work to make the necessary discoveries," she noted.

Since the launch of the project in 2008, 1,800 people have signed up and 150 have died their brains have been donated.

Find out more about dementia care and services at Barchester care homes.