Recognizing the value of autopsy information to the families of those with Alzheimer's disease, and its value to progress in preventing memory decline and finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, the NYU Silberstein Aging and Dementia Research Center offers its patients this important service through its Brain Donation Program.

• Who can enroll?
• What are benefits of enrolling?
• What is the enrollment procedure?
• When should enrollment take place?
• Who organizes autopsy services once enrollment takes place?

Who can enroll?

The Brain Donation Program is open to all individuals evaluated at the NYU Silberstein Aging and Dementia Research Center. Family members of Alzheimer's disease patients who are interested in an autopsy for themselves also become eligible by completing their own clinical evaluation.

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What are benefits of enrolling?

• The comfort for family of receiving a definite diagnosis.
• The chance to understand the effect of Alzheimer's Disease on your family member’s brain through complete neuropathological and anatomical reports.
• The opportunity to review and discuss the diagnosis with a neuropathologist and the ADRC clinicians who followed your family member throughout the progression of the illness.
• The opportunity to make a valuable contribution to research that may save countless lives in the future.

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What is the enrollment procedure?

While completing a diagnostic evaluation and receiving the results at the NYU Silberstein Aging and Dementia Research Center, participants are introduced to the programs available at the ADRC, including the Brain Donation Program. At this time, participants will receive an ADRC Brain Donation packet that includes:

• An autopsy consent form for the ADRC
• An autopsy consent form for family records
• A medical release form
• Informational materials, including a brochure explaining the program, an article on autopsies and religion, and a Brain Donation card with important contact information.

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When should enrollment take place?

Participants and families are offered autopsy services at the time of initial evaluation in order to provide time for an informed decision. Although patients with Alzheimer’s disease may live for many years, families are encouraged to discuss end of life arrangements in advance, particularly if a patient is still able to make his or her own decisions.

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Who organizes autopsy services once enrollment takes place?

The ADRC Brain Donation Coordinator makes all necessary arrangements, coordinates services with all appropriate facilities and works with families throughout their enrollment in the program

To inquire about how to enroll in the ADRC Brain Donation Program, call Sadia Faiz, MD, MPH, Brain Donation Coordinator, at 212-263-5108.

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