Brains for dementia research

My husband began to suffer from memory problems about 15 years ago and is now in the late stages of Alzheimer's disease. One of our ways of coping was to become involved in research and when the subject of brain donation was broached it seemed a relatively easy decision to make. We were both of the opinion that after death anything which could be of use to future generations could be removed prior to the funeral.  

I began to explore thoughts about brain donation more widely when I was asked to talk about it on a BDR training day. I discovered that although many people had signed up for organ transplant purposes, none had donated their brains. Feelings about brain donation were generally positive, but some are uncomfortable with the idea. Though the heart is essentially a pump and a kidney is essentially a filtration system, your brain is who you are - the mechanism behind all your thoughts, your knowledge your skills and your personality.  

I have heard a Brain Bank described as a diagnostic service for families and a research resource for scientists. As well as wanting to aid research I do eventually want to know whether the pathology found in my husband's brain matches the clinical signs he has shown during the course of his illness.    

Experiencing my husband's dementia journey has, for me, turned what was essentially a practical decision into an emotional one. This disease must be conquered.

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