Brain Donation
One donation can provide insight into hundreds of research studies for the 50 million people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.
When a person chooses brain donation, they are choosing to help find better ways to diagnose and treat the 50 million people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Some of the most exciting advances and discoveries in dementia research come from studying brain tissue, which is why we need your help.
Receive a definitive diagnosis
Details of the donor’s medical history are collected and a careful examination of the donation is performed. A neuropathology report will then be sent to families on the type and levels of pathology found, helping family members assess their risks for developing dementia or other neurologic diseases.
Everyone can donate
People who do not exhibit memory loss or other cognitive problems can also choose brain donation to help advance research. Brains without disease help us determine which changes in the brain are from normal aging and what makes some individuals resistant to diseases like Alzheimer’s. No referrals are needed to donate.
Free donation arrangements
Brain donation comes at no cost to the family and will not delay funeral arrangements. Our team at the Biggs Institute will work with family members to make all necessary arrangements for transportation and donation. Brain donation is a decision that should be discussed with family members. We are here to help you with these important conversations. For more information, contact us at 210-450-8423 or BrainBank@uthscsa.edu
Enroll in 3 easy steps!
Click here to learn how to enroll or complete the enrollment forms.
Frequently asked questions
View frequently asked questions about brain donation.
For questions or to enroll:
Contact 210-450-8423 or BrainBank@uthscsa.edu
When the time comes to donate, call our 24/7 donation phone number:
210-258-4348
Answers for families and research
Read featured stories on how our nationally recognized Brain Bank is leading the discovery in dementia research.
Banking on the Brain
Currently, the best method for understanding the changes in our brain that cause dementia symptoms is a brain autopsy.
Learn why the state’s only designated national Alzheimer’s disease research center has become a leading resource in dementia research.
Paul’s Story
“Whatever was going on in the brain was hidden to the rest of us,” said Paul’s wife, Michelle. “It is a bit of resolution, and this is the only way to get it,” she added. “It is a conclusive way to know what happened in some form because we do not know why it happened, but [now] we know what happened.”
Featured on Texas Public Radio: The Brain Bank
“Neurodegenerative disorders can be really tricky, and even with really great clinical care, there can be little hidden things that we find in the brain and mixed features of different neurodegenerative diseases. So pathology is kind of the baseline truth, the definitive way to detect and diagnose diseases,” said Kevin Bieniek, PhD, director of the Brain Bank at the Biggs Institute.