Attitudes and Perceptions about Brain Donation Among African Americans: Implications for Recruitment into Alzheimer's Disease Research

J Alzheimers Dis. 2024;97(4):1621-1627. doi: 10.3233/JAD-230461.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate attitudes toward brain donation and perceptions of medical research that influence brain donation among African Americans. Cross-sectional surveys were administered to African American community members (n = 227). Findings indicate that only 27% of respondents were willing to donate their brain. As medical mistrust was not found to be a significant barrier to research participation, there may be opportunity to increase brain donation by providing information about Alzheimer's disease and brain donation to potential donors and their families so that informed decisions about participating in research can be made.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Black or African American; brain donation; dementia; medical mistrust; recruitment; research participation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease*
  • Attitude
  • Biomedical Research
  • Black or African American* / psychology
  • Brain
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Humans
  • Patient Selection
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Tissue and Organ Procurement*