Something else to lose sleep over: Consciousness could last hours after 'death' [View all]

Last edited Wed Feb 18, 2026, 06:20 PM - Edit history (1)

The brain can retain some degree of consciousness for “minutes to hours” after a patient has been declared dead by doctors, a science conference has heard.

After studying the near-death experiences of those who have recovered after experiencing a cardiac arrest, a researcher has called for a reappraisal of the “reversibility of death”.

She said her findings suggest that doctors should keep trying to save patients’ lives for longer, noting that hospitals should “re-evaluate [their] resuscitation efforts” and the point at which they begin harvesting organs for donation.

Death is defined as the irreversible cessation of circulatory and brain function — but the exact moment at which this takes place may be harder to pinpoint than previously thought.

https://www.thetimes.com/uk/science/article/life-after-death-brain-works-for-a-while-after-the-body-dies-6hfm0t3f8