The primary benefit will be to your family who will receive a definitive diagnosis of any disease process. Examining the brain after death is the only way to verify a diagnosis. This can be helpful and inform family members about their risk of developing Alzheimer's or another type of Dementia.

​

Your generous gift will improve understanding around diseases that cause memory loss in older adults. We hope this knowledge can help us build a world where memory diseases are found early, treated swiftly, and ultimately preventable or even curable.

There are no costs to the family associated with the donation. However, the same cost a family would pay to transport the body from the place of death to a funeral home or crematorium will need to be paid to transport the body from the autopsy center to the desired funeral home or crematorium.

Brain tissue is used for the following things:

​

• To compare diagnosis of memory disorders before and after death, in people with and without memory disorders

• To study the relationship between genetics and brain disease

• To provide brain tissue for future research in Alzheimer's Disease and other memory disorders

​

Given the valuable and unique nature of your donated brain tissue, the tissue and associated medical information are separated so that you cannot be identified. Everything is securely stored in University of Florida's Neuromedicine Human Brain & Tissue Bank for future research, until the tissue is used or the University of Florida decides to destroy them.​ GET TIMEFRAME

Yes. The brain removal process leaves no disfigurement and takes less than one hour. Only on close inspection would anyone know a donation has occurred.

We suggest making the decision well in advance because family members and other loved ones should be involved. It may take some time to have these discussions with your loved ones and come up with a plan you all agree on. Death can come suddenly and unexpectedly. It can be distressing when death occurs and there is confusion surrounding a decision to donate your brain tissue or you have not had enough time to formulate a plan. 

Additionally, it is important to have arrangements in place to make sure that the tissue can be collected within a 24-hour window after death. We want to be sure that this does 

The 1Florida ADRC uses brain donations to study neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Some researchers may develop new tests to diagnose diseases. Others may develop new ways to treat or cure diseases. It is also our priority to study diseases that are passed on in families, this research may use your tissue samples to look for genetic causes and signs of disease. 

​

Any information that could identify you is removed at the time of collection so that the tissue can be used in future research without additional consent or any risk to your privacy and confidentiality.

Historically African-Americans and Latinos have been underrepresented in research. Reasons behind this can include systemic racism and a history of unfair treatment which has led to mistrust. 

​

One consequence of research that does not include all people, is that the results may not benefit all people. We know that African-American's and Latinos in the US are at a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's but they are less represented in Alzheimer's disease research. This can impact accuracy of diagnosis and treatment in these populations.

It is critical that Alzheimer's research includes everyone. Including diverse participants in research helps scientists to identify unique factors that may contribute to Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. It also helps make sure tools for diagnosis are relevant and valid across cultural groups. 

We know religion is an important part of many people's lives, and it may be important to you to know how leaders in your religious community feel about brain donation. Many religions in the US support donation, but the decision to become a brain donor is incredibly personal so we suggest consulting with your faith based leader if you have questions about your religion and donation.

​

Click here to read an article about what some leaders have already said. 

Most often the patient is the one who gives consent or authorization. However, there are some cases where the health-care surrogate, next-of-kin, or guardian makes the decision if the patient is deceased.