Autopsy Human Brain Dissection Protocol for Common Age-Related Neurodegenerative Disorders

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Pathology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Age-related neurodegenerative disorders are leading causes of dementia worldwide.
• Standardized examination protocols are essential for comparing human cohorts and understanding disease impact.
• Harmonizing human studies with animal and in vitro models is key to demonstrating relevance to human disease.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a concise protocol for the examination of human whole brain autopsy samples for neurodegenerative disorders.
• To describe tissue collection methods for both fresh-frozen and formalin-fixed samples.
• To summarize diagnostic protocols for common dementia-associated neurodegenerative diseases.

Main Methods:

• A protocol for examining human whole brain autopsy samples (with or without spinal cord) is presented.
• Methods for collecting both fresh-frozen and formalin-fixed tissues are described.
• A limited evaluation approach for neurodegenerative disease is outlined, assuming basic neuroanatomy knowledge.

Main Results:

• The protocol yields samples suitable for the examination of most neurodegenerative diseases.
• The guide facilitates standardized examination and diagnosis of neurodegenerative disorders.
• Summarized diagnostic protocols for common dementia-related disorders are included.

Conclusions:

• Standardized autopsy protocols are vital for research on age-related neurodegenerative disorders.
• This protocol aids in the consistent examination of brain tissue for neurodegenerative disease diagnosis.
• Further research and harmonization of methods are needed to fully understand and combat dementia.