When a Russian man with a severely disabled body, Valery Spiridonov, was named as a potential patient for such a procedure, it sparked significant discussion in our country. However, a Chinese man was later chosen instead, and the surgery was repeatedly postponed. Canavero conducted head transplants on corpses and rats, but he has not yet performed the procedure on a living human.
Technically, the process does not seem overly complicated; after all, Soviet doctor Demikhov transplanted living dog heads decades ago. However, these dogs typically survived for only a few days. The main problem with completely severing the head and transplanting it onto another body is the lack of an effective technology for connecting the spinal cord. Without this, a patient with a transplanted head would have no control over the body’s muscles. Technically, life support systems could keep the patient alive, but such a state would be akin to torture.
In 2002, Japanese scientists appeared to have found a solution to this issue. They transplanted rat heads, and the rats were able to control their bodies. This was achieved using low temperatures to cool the heads before transplantation and a method of connecting nerve cells using polyethylene glycol.
However, applying this to humans would require cooling the brain to a temperature at which all neuronal activity would cease, which comes with its own risks. Still, if doctors manage to incorporate advancements in stem cell technology, robotics, and nerve surgery, they might succeed in the next decade. This is the belief of Bruce Matthews, a former leading specialist at Kingston University Clinic in Yorkshire, England.
Matthews, also a writer, recently co-authored a science fiction novel, Chrysalis, with Michael J. Lee, exploring the potential for human immortality. Matthews’ interest in head transplantation technology deepened while researching for the novel.
“Initially, we were brainstorming various ideas, and it all seemed rather absurd, but then I realized it wasn’t as far-fetched as it seemed. If you separate the body from the head and then attach the head to another body, it’s not impossible. It can be done in reality.”
According to Matthews, it may even be possible to transplant the entire spinal nerve system along with the head, separating it from the spine. “It is extremely challenging to remove the brain without drilling holes into the spine, but I am confident we will master this within the next 10 years.”
Such an operation could benefit not only those seeking “immortality” but also individuals suffering from muscular dystrophy and other severe physical disabilities.
