Brain Donation

Studying the post-mortem brain provides scientists with the opportunity to better understand Parkinson's. People with Parkinson's and sometimes individuals without disease, can choose to donate their brains to Parkinson's research. Brain donation is a lasting contribution to science. Yet for some people it may bring up many difficult questions and concerns.

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Additionally, finding the right donation program is not always easy. There are several programs that accept donations from people with Parkinson's, including one at UAB. If brain donation interests you, consider asking your neurologist about the best steps for you locally.

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The Alabama Brain Collection is helping to understand the diseased and healthy brain for the benefits of future generations. Your donation of brain tissues makes a world of difference. The Alabama Brain Collection (ABC), a resource of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB), is dedicated to promoting research with brain tissues obtained post-mortem from individuals with and without neuropsychiatric disorders.

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Tissues are collected in collaboration with the Alabama Organ Center and other sources. The primary goal of the ABC is to provide high-quality tissue, along with comprehensive clinical information, for hypothesis-driven research. The ABC is not conceptualized as a brain bank with open access, but is maintained and funded through collaborative research.

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For more information about the Alabama Brain Collection, including an application for tissues use, PLEASE VISIT

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You can also talk to your neurologist to see if donating your brain could contribute positively to Parkinson's research.