The Devastating Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease
Whether a patient, family member or caregiver, nearly all of us will be impacted by Alzheimer’s disease at some point in our lifetime
Alzheimer’s Disease is one the country’s most significant public health issues. With approximately 6.7 million Americans over the age of 65 living with Alzheimer’s Disease, it is the fifth leading cause of death for those in this age group. As our population ages (and we’re living longer than ever before), more people will develop this devastating disorder which impacts not just those suffering from it, but also caregivers and families. We need a big breakthrough in neuroscience to stop this shattering disease.
Brain donation is crucial for Alzheimer’s research to help diagnose, treat, and hopefully one day, cure or even prevent the disease.
Donated brain tissue provides insights into the accumulation of amyloid plaques, tau tangles, and other pathological features associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Also, by examining brains at various stages of Alzheimer’s, researchers can learn how the disease progresses over time, and help identify potential strategies to slow or halt it altogether.
Brain tissue can be used to test the effects of new drugs or therapies on the disease’s pathology, helping to determine their potential before they are tested in clinical trials. It also can help identify biomarkers that might be useful for diagnosing Alzheimer’s earlier, which is critical for developing preventative strategies.
Finally, donated healthy brains are equally as important when it comes to Alzheimer’s research. By comparing brain tissue from individuals with Alzheimer’s to those without the disease, researchers can pinpoint the specific changes associated with Alzheimer’s, and improve our understanding of what distinguishes healthy brains from those affected by the disease.
Consider donating your brain to Alzheimer’s research to help future generations
Consider donating your brain to neuroscience research to help future generations
Here’s how it works:
Register In Advance
Complete the online form here. Your brain bank will send consent forms and request additional information directly from you.
Inform Your Loved Ones
Talk about your decision and desire to donate your brain to neuroscience when you pass. Your family will need to play an important role in ensuring your wishes are carried out promptly.Notify Your Brain Bank
Your family will contact the brain bank immediately upon your death. The brain bank will make arrangements for the brain to be removed (respectfully from the back of the head so it is not disfiguring) typically at the family’s funeral home. There is no cost to the family.
Benefit From Your Gift
If requested your family may receive a Summary of Neuropathological findings about your brain. Even more importantly, so many families tell us it helps them heal knowing that science will be advanced with this valuable brain tissue.
Not ready to pre-register yet?
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What others have said about pre-registering:
Common Questions
Why donate my brain to science?
Breakthroughs in brain disease depend on studies using donated post-mortem human brain tissue. Since one brain can provide tissue for dozens – sometimes hundreds – of neurological studies, an individual brain donation is a highly valuable gift that almost anyone can make.
Do I need to have a brain disorder, like Alzheimer’s Disease, to donate my brain?
No. To ensure research is thorough, it is extremely important that scientists have access to donated brain tissue from people who did not have brain diseases. This is known as control tissue and it is crucial that scientists compare it directly with tissue from a person with a neurological diagnosis to determine differences. In other words, non-diseased brains are extremely valuable to neuroscientists as they must be part of every study.
I’m already an organ donor. Does this include my brain?
No. Organ donation and brain donation are separate matters. An organ donor designation on a driver’s license does not include brain donation. Depending on the circumstances of death, it may be possible to donate organs for transplant as well as the brain for scientific research. If this is the case, the recovery teams will coordinate so that both kinds of donations can take place. Separate registrations for both organ donation and brain donation should be completed, if the intention is to donate both.