• Question: How long does it take for your brain to decay once you are dead ?

    Asked by 1assmith to James, Jen, Susanna on 21 Mar 2013.
    • Photo: Jen Todd Jones

      Jen Todd Jones answered on 21 Mar 2013:

      Hi 1assmith!

      When we die our cells die at different rates, the brain cells die within minutes. I don’t know exactly who long it takes for them to decay exactly but they are certainly non-functional within 7 minutes.

      Jen

Comments

  • Photo: sapphireblue

    sapphireblue commented on :

    so once we r dead wat keeps on living….. some people tell me its the brain but i have always thought its our mind and soul…. i have always wanted to ask someone intelligent and scientific like u!!!

  • Photo: Jen

    Jen commented on :

    Hi sapphire!

    This is a matter of opinion, some scientists believe that when the brain dies the mind dies, and along with it the soul – really we tend to think of our soul or consciousness as our mind, and this comes from the brain. Personally I don’t believe that anything survives once the body has died, we are what we are and everything comes to an end, I’m comfortable with that idea. Other people have different beliefs, for example they may think the soul exists outside of the body and can continue once the body has died.

    Jen