When does a brain die?

A brain is considered to be dead when there is a complete and irreversible loss of all brain activity, including the brainstem, which controls vital functions like breathing and heart rate. This is typically determined through clinical assessments and confirmatory tests, such as an electroencephalogram (EEG) that shows no electrical activity in the brain. Additionally, the absence of neurological reflexes is a key indicator of brain death. Once brain death is established, it is legally recognized as death.