Is a human head transplant really possible? Sergio Canavero of the Turin Advanced Neuromodulation Group in Italy says it is, and he is presenting his proposal today, at the annual conference of the American Academy of Neurological and Orthopedic Surgeons in Annapolis, Maryland.
Canavero intends to use brain-dead organ donors to test the technique and says he could be ready to attempt the operation by 2017. Not surprisingly, there are a number of rather large hurdles he must clear before he will be close to even trying it.
Even if the surgery works, wouldn’t it be psychologically damaging? Some people who have received face or limb transplants mourn the loss of their old body part or feel that their self image is conflicted. Studies show that inputs from our body, such as a heartbeat or rumbling stomach, can influence our will power, emotions and language. Who knows whether the person who comes out of the operating room would be the same as the one who went in.
Would there be any benefits apart from getting a healthier body? If the recipient head is older than the donor body, they may get a rejuvenating boost. Infusions of young blood can raise physical endurance and cognitive function in older animals. A study is now seeing if young blood has the same effect on people with Alzheimer’s.
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