Join Me – Donate your Brain to Research to Find a Cure for Alzheimer’s disease

By Lori La Bey of Senior Lifestyle Trends

Well it’s time to walk my talk to support a cure for Alzheimer’s disease.  I decided to sign both my Mother and myself up for the Dementia Brain Bank Research Program.  I just received the paperwork in the mail today and it is very easy to complete.  The cost for the autopsy is the responsibility of the individual, and the results will be kept confidential as far as the study goes. 

Even though Mom was formally diagnosed Alzheimer’s disease years ago, I also know the only way to know 100% if someone has Alzheimer’s is by completing an autopsy.  Although I believe in my heart and head is that Mom does indeed have Alzheimer’s you might question why bother with an autopsy?   Well, I figure if the additional medical information gathered along with the pathology report help with the progression of research it is well worth it.  Plus I truly feel it is what Mom would want.  Research is a discussion we had many years ago. After all, she has struggled with memory problems for the past 30 years.  Much of that time was painful and difficult for her to deal with.  The emotional impact the disease is enormous.  Its affects are far reaching and spread through family, friends, and co-workers.   If research has the potential to alleviate some of the pain and fear for others in the future than in my mind it is well worth the process and the price. 

As for me, I have not been diagnosed with any sort of memory problems at this time, but I also know things could change.  Research shows the odds of getting Alzheimer’s increases as we age.  If the donation of my brain and medical information can assist others in the future, well I’m all in!

If you would like more information on the BRAIN BANK RESEARCH PROGRAM please read the brief summary of the program below along with contact information to reach the program.

The Dementia Brain Bank Research Program has been operated by the Alzheimer’s Research Center for more than 30 years. The Brain Bank has collected over 2,500 brains obtained from individuals enrolled in our autopsy program who suffered from some form of dementia. It is one of the world’s largest collections of brain tissue, which contributes to research on the neurochemistry, physiology, and diagnosis of dementing illnesses. In conjunction with the brain tissue itself, clinical records and a family history are obtained for each donor in order to better understand each dementing illness and to work towards the improvement of diagnosing, treating, and preventing these diseases. To date, the Brain Bank Research Program has resulted in a number of important publications and findings. One highlight of this research was the discovery that the APOE allele is altered in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. This finding alone resulted in thousands of publications from other researchers on this topic. Also it was discovered that glucose uptake and utilization is decreased in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients, which contributed to the discovery that intranasal insulin improved memory in patients with the disease. It is evident that the Brain Bank has and will play a critical role in unlocking the mystery behind Alzheimer’s disease and other dementing illnesses.

The website for the Alzheimer’s Research Center  in Minnesota is    http://alzheimersinfo.org/

 You may call us toll free                                                           1-800-229-2872         

or if you are in the Twin Cities (Minnesota) call               651-254-2743        

You may contact Michelle Brady by email at Michelle.L.Brady@HealthPartners.com,
The Alzheimer’s Research Center is co-directed by Leah R. Hanson, PhD and William H. Frey II, PhD

If you would like to make a donation to the Alzheimer’s Research Center by check, please send it to “Alzheimer’s Research Center” at 640 Jackson Street St. Paul, MN. 55101-2595