Brain Donation for Dementia
Brain donation helps researchers better understand the causes of and treatment options for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. One donated brain can provide resources for hundreds of research studies. In this way, it provides a gift of hope to future generations at risk of developing dementia.
Our researchers use brain tissue donated after death to better understand the causes of and treatment options for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
- What is the purpose of the autopsy for dementia
The chief purpose of an autopsy for dementia is to confirm or refine a clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer disease or other dementing or degenerative illness. Currently there is no clinical test to diagnose Alzheimer disease during life with absolute certainty. Definitive diagnosis is typically accomplished by postmortem microscopic examination of brain tissue by a pathologist. An autopsy can also detect other disorders that may mimic or coexist with Alzheimer disease. If requested, a final report of the diagnostic findings of the autopsy brain evaluation can be provided to the person who legally authorized the autopsy.
- Why is it important to confirm a clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer disease or other similar disorder through an autopsy?
IPAT - Impact of Intensive Treatment of Systolic Blood Pressure on Brain Perfusion, Amyloid and Tau in Older Adults (Enrolling)
There are several reasons. If preventive therapies for Alzheimer disease or any of its related conditions become available, it will be important for family members to have complete medical records about their ancestors. An autopsy-confirmed diagnosis in a relative could be useful for deciding upon any early treatment that the future may bring. Further, if the patient participated in clinical research studies, a confirmed diagnosis helps clinical physicians to analyze research data more accurately and to refine their diagnostic and treatment approaches. Finally, definite knowledge about the patient’s disease(s) often helps the family to cope better with the illness and death of their loved one and bring some closure to this chapter in their lives.
- Can the brain autopsy identify other diseases besides Alzheimer disease?
Yes. Every brain is also routinely evaluated for evidence of cerebrovascular disease (“strokes"), Parkinson disease and Lewy body dementia, Pick disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, brain tumors, infections, and many other disorders that can cause Alzheimer-like clinical features or even coexist with Alzheimer disease.
- What other benefits may the autopsy provide?
Assays for AD and PD
Much of our current understanding about the nature of Alzheimer disease and related brain disorders has been gained from research studies of autopsy brain tissue. Such studies have shed light upon the causes of certain clinical symptoms, the basis of the patient’s response (or lack of response) to certain medications, and the general nature of aging processes in the brain. Autopsy study of the brain for research purposes is especially valuable in patients who have had thorough clinical and radiographic evaluations, and have been re-examined by clinicians periodically until death, as is done for patients enrolled in North Texas Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at UT Southwestern.
- Who may request an autopsy?
Assays for AD and PD
The proper person to authorize an autopsy is determined by the laws of the state of Texas. These laws are strict regarding who may sign a request for a postmortem examination. In almost all circumstances, only the legal next of kin may grant permission for an autopsy. Generally, a married individual’s spouse is the next of kin. If the deceased individual is widowed or divorced, his or her adult children are generally the next of kin.