The Hows and Whys of Brain Donation

Just like organs such as the heart, lungs, and kidneys, brains can also be donated after death for important research causes. Yet, registering for organ donation does not mean you are also registered for brain donation, and this divide is caused by the difference in the purpose of these donations. Other donated organs are usually used for continuing the normal functioning or lives of the donation receiver, while donated brains are primarily used in research. Many common brain-related diseases—dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Down syndrome, and more—are currently incurable. By examining these brains, researchers hope to fully understand these diseases and take us one step closer to developing suitable and effective treatments.

Some brain research faculties will limit brain donors to those who have participated in brain research and experiments when they were still alive. This is because it allows researchers to track changes in function and behavior over a longer period of time, as well as gather details on biological and environmental factors that may have contributed to these changes. The more they know about the brain donor’s cerebral functions and the relationship between biological and cognitive markers, the more information they obtain regarding disease causes, progression, and treatment options. Nevertheless, different brain research facilities have different regulations regarding who is eligible to apply for a donation, and it is encouraged that interested individuals reach out to their local facility to understand how they can contribute to brain research—whether through participating in studies or applying to become a donor.

Who is allowed to donate their brain?

Anyone 18 years or older may individually choose to donate their brain following death, while those below 18 years of age will require legal consent from a guardian. Both healthy individuals and those with brain diseases are allowed to donate their brains, as people without symptoms or signs of brain disease serve as a valuable comparison in understanding the changes inflicted upon the brain by normal aging.

Researchers are also eager to receive brain donations from individuals of diverse races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, geographical locations, and more. This is because while studies have shown that some communities are disproportionately affected by specific brain diseases, these communities are often underrepresented in research, and it is thus difficult to obtain information on how they are affected by these diseases. Increasing diversity in brain research samples will help researchers understand whether there are unique factors that contribute to the onset of specific brain diseases.

Those who wish to donate their brains have to keep in mind that not all brain banks will have the capacity to accept these donations. Given the limited resources available to the process of removing, preserving, and studying these brains, researchers have to prioritize those that are most conducive to advancing their studies. The following are marked as high-priority resources for understanding Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias:

  • People with healthy brains, regardless of age at the time of death

  • Those who belong to traditionally underrepresented communities, including both healthy donors and those with symptoms of brain disease

  • People diagnosed with non-Alzheimer’s dementias, such as frontotemporal disorders (the result of damage to the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain) and Lewy body dementia (abnormal deposits of protein in the brain that lead to changes in behavior)

  • Those with Down syndrome, who are at high risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease

  • Individuals participating in clinical trials and other research on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias

How and where can I donate my brain?

The Brain Donor Project — This organization connects donors with brain banks in the NeuroBioBank, a network of brain banks that accept brain donations and make these brains available to researchers. The NeuroBioBank was established by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which offers information about the process, FAQs, and tips for brain donation.

Alzheimer’s Disease Research CentersThis website, provided by the NIH, compiles Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers (ADRCs) in all states. Most ADRCs only accept donations from individuals who have participated in related studies at ADRCs.

Biggs Institute Brain Bank Core — Based at the University of Texas, this center welcomes anyone who is interested to become a donor, including both those diagnosed with brain disorders and healthy individuals.

The Veterans Affairs (VA) Biorepository Brain Bank — This center accepts brain donations from veterans from all states. Besides from donations from healthy veterans, the VA also specifically seeks donations from veterans diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)—a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects cells in the brain and spinal cord—veterans who served in the 1990–91 Gulf War, and individuals diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They also seek individuals who have been diagnosed with disorders to enroll in related studies hosted by the center.

Like normal organ donation, brain donation is a gift just as important to the future of medicine. If you are interested in finding out more and potentially contributing to this incredible process, be sure to check out the above channels to learn more about brain donation.

Ariel Shih