“My Parent’s Body Is Sacred”: Perspectives From Adult Latino Children About Brain Donation for Alzheimer Disease Research

imageIntroduction:

Brain donation is a critical part of advancing research addressing Alzheimer disease and related dementias (ADRD). Studies on ADRD with an option for brain donation are reliant on family members to fulfill the research participant’s plan for brain donation. Thus, family members play a pivotal role in increasing brain donation rates, particularly among under-represented groups.

Methods:

This study examines knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about brain donation for research among Latinos. Latino men (N=4) and Latina women (N=11) 18 years of age or older with a parental figure age 65 years and over were invited to participate in a focus group.

Results:

Data analyses revealed 3 themes. Two themes focused on factors influencing a family’s willingness to support brain donation: (a) social and cultural contexts, and (b) lack of knowledge and information…

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