Head Transplants Are Coming In The Near Future, Scientist Says

Could a human head transplant be possible in the near future?

Sergio Canavero of the Turin Advanced Neuromodulation Group in Italy announced a project in June at the American Academy of Neurology and Orthopaedic Surgeons' annual meeting that researchers are moving forward with a plan to transplant a human head onto another body.

The first animal head transplant was completed back in 1970 by scientist Robert White at Wast Western University School of Medicine, according to New Scientist. The head of a monkey was attached to the body of another and it lived for nine days until the body eventually rejected it. The spinal column wasn't attached, preventing movement. 

A slightly similar yet more gruesome tale (or tail) involved Soviet scientist Vladimir Demikhov grafting the head and forelegs of a smaller dog onto a bigger dog in 1959. The dogs or dog only lived for four days and the desired result took 24 attempts, according to Motherboard.

Canavero noted that the biggest challenge today would be how to fuse the two spinal cords. Relying on a substance known as polyethylene glycol would be essential--a chemical known to "encourage the fat in cell membranes to mesh," helping to cleanly cut the cords of both bodies.

Of course, many also believe that this procedure would be too outlandish, dangerous and unethical.

"I don't believe it will ever work, there are too many problems with the procedure," concluded Harry Goldsmith, a clinical professor of neurological surgery at the University of California, Davis. "Trying to keep someone healthy in a coma for four weeks - it's not going to happen."