"My Parent's Body Is Sacred": Perspectives from Adult Latino Children About Brain Donation for Alzheimer Disease Research

Research participants who intend to donate their brains to a study on Alzheimer’s and related diseases are reliant on family members to fulfill the donation plan. Thus, family members play a pivotal role in increasing brain donation rates, particularly among underrepresented groups. In this study, researchers conducted focus groups with a total of 15 Latino adults who each has a parent age 65 or over. Analysis of the discussions support inclusion of family members during all stages of the research process, from recruitment to dissemination, for Latino participants. Addressing information gaps among Latinos about the process and benefits of brain donation may help mitigate mistrust and misperceptions and increase participation rates in brain donation.

Montoya Y, Balbim GM, Glover, CM, Marquez DX. “My parent's body is sacred": Perspectives from adult Latino children about brain donation for Alzheimer disease research. Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders 2020; Mar 24: doi: 10.1097/WAD.0000000000000377. [Epub ahead of print].