Introduction to Brain Donation
Brain donation is the gold standard for advancing our understanding of the human brain and the diseases that affect it, including Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Despite neuroimaging, fluid biomarkers, and clinical assessments providing valuable insight, brain donation provides researchers with the direct evidence needed to confirm diagnoses, uncover disease mechanisms, and develop new treatments that improve the lives of future generations. Every donation represents a profound gift from families — one that carries both scientific and human significance.
Because brain donation is both a technical process and a deeply emotional experience, it requires the highest standards of care in every step. On the technical side, gold-standard practices in procurement, transportation, record keeping, and oversight ensure that donated tissue remains of the highest quality for research. Equally essential is the human dimension: families entrust us with their loved one’s final gift, and compassionate, clear, and culturally sensitive communication builds the trust and dignity this process deserves.
At UCI MIND, we believe brain donation programs must be equipped with training in both technical best practices and family-centered communication. By combining these skills, programs can optimize every aspect of the donation process — protecting scientific value while honoring the generosity of donors and their families. This training resource was created to help programs across the country strengthen their work in these areas and set a new standard for excellence in brain donation.