Brainbridge released an animated video about its head transplant technology, claiming the procedure could extend human life by centuries. Experts interviewed by Daily Mail discussed the potential implications and challenges of such a method.
The initiative’s founders suggest that the brain could function for hundreds of years if the body remains youthful. They also propose that head transplantation could offer a healthy body to people who are paralyzed by injury or illness, enabling a renewed quality of life.
The video envisions the use of robotic surgery and artificial intelligence to perform head transplantation. The proposed first step involves cooling the donor body and the recipient to five degrees Celsius to minimize the risk of brain damage during the procedure.
Next, the plan is to ligate the carotid and vertebral arteries using a robotic surgical system. The operation would be guided by artificial intelligence, with polyethylene glycol material and a specialized implant used to restore nerve conduction between the head and body.
Blood would be cleared to prevent clotting in the newly attached head. Life support during the transition would rely on an artificial plasma solution, and the startup envisions obtaining fresh blood from a donor to sustain the recipient.
Transplanting facial muscles and soft tissues from the head to the neck area is proposed to reduce tissue rejection and rejuvenate the appearance of the recipient. Postoperative care would involve a prolonged coma—roughly a month—and immune-suppressing medications to prevent rejection as the brain takes root.
Creators of the video claim readiness for a first operation within eight years. However, experts cited by the Daily Mail cautioned that the video oversimplifies brain function and bodily integration. They described the concept as speculative, noting that even successful hand transplants or nerve reattachments do not guarantee brain transplant success. Lifelong immune suppression would likely be required, and doctors warned that the video may be aimed at attracting attention and funding from investors with immortality ambitions.
A former biophysicist highlighted that while there has been hopeful discussion about head transplantation in the past, substantial scientific and ethical hurdles remain before such a procedure could be considered feasible in humans.