Brain autopsy

easy23 · June 13

Is anyone planning on getting a brain autopsy on their LO once they enter stage 8? If so, how did you go about making the arrangements? I think I would like to know what dementia(s) my DH had for the sake of his children and grandchildren.

annie51 · June 14

I would have liked to have this done, but had not thought about it ahead of time and my DH died very suddenly from a heart attack. Because it was so unexpected I wasn’t think about it at all in the ER. Good for you for thinking ahead - especially with kids and grandkids that could possibly benefit from the information. We do not have children, but for research purposes, I wish I would have donated his brain to science.

jgreen · June 14

Hi, @easy23

Not sure. DH and I are organ donors when the time comes - it is on our drivers’ licenses. I think if asked, my husband would want his brain donated for research (like @annie51 said). But not sure if I want autopsy. DH’s maternal grandmother, his mother, and sister all had dementia and his biomarkers are positive for Alzheimer’s disease. So I don’t think we’d learn anything new.

blacksparky · June 14

If you’re asking about donating the brain of someone with Alzheimer’s disease for research after death, that is possible and highly valuable for advancing dementia research. A donated brain can support hundreds of studies and can also help provide a definitive diagnosis of the type of dementia involved.
A very important point: arrangements usually need to be made before death, and the donation coordinator often needs to be contacted within a few hours after death.

Alzheimer’s Association — They provide information and can help you find an appropriate brain bank or research center.

Vitruvius · June 14

I had an autopsy for my DW’s brain. I made an extensive post a month or so ago. In a follow up post in the same thread I answered a question about the process I went through.

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/76102/the-results-of-my-dw-s-brain-autopsy-not-at-all-the-results-i-expected

easy23 · June 14

thanks for the info. I am searching the website for previous posts on the subject.

jsps139_ · 2:57AM

My husband and I are both donating our bodies to the medical school in our area. They told us that in some cases the bodies would be studied for years (I’m thinking brains of Alzheimer patients) and they will let the family know when they complete their research and perform the cremation and buried the remains in their cemetery. Then every fall they invite family members to a “thank you” ceremony where doctors, nurses, EMT share what our loved ones meant to them and their ability to become better doctors, nurses, etc because of our loved ones decision to donate. We have cards with instructions on who to contact when we pass away, and they come and pick up the body.

Brain autopsy

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