Dementia is a brain illness that leads to memory impairment. To understand this illness and come up with new treatment options, researchers need to study the brain. Brain donation improves our understanding of what happens in the brain of someone with Down syndrome (DS), while giving hope to the DS community.
The human brain is complex and difficult to study in living people. Research into diseases that affect the brain has to be done in tissue donated after death. A better understanding is the first key step towards new treatments.
An autopsy is the examination of brain tissue after death by a specialist called a pathologist and will be performed as soon as possible AFTER the person has passed. Brain donation does not leave any marks on the hairline or face.
Because dementia research depends on all types of brain tissue, including those with no obvious disease, anyone over the age of 18 can register to be a donor. A person’s next of kin can consent to a brain donation, if the person is unable to do this on their own.
Most religions are not against a person donating their brain to research. Even after a brain donation, a person can have an open casket funeral.
If you are wondering more about your religion and brain donation, please go to this website.
The consortium consists of seven different research groups who have devoted their research to Down syndrome. By working together, we can unlock the mysteries around trisomy 21 and allow those with this condition to live healthy lives.
