Alzheimer’s autopsy
Arranging an Alzheimer’s autopsy
The only way to be sure a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is accurate is to perform an autopsy. The closest surviving relative or legal guardian has the right to have an autopsy performed. Be sure to make the arrangements before death occurs. There are two possible courses of action:
If the patient dies in the hospital or is in an Alzheimer’s disease research study:
1. An autopsy may be arranged and paid for by the hospital or study group. Confirm this with your doctor and the hospital pathology lab.
2. If this is not the case, you can order an autopsy through the hospital pathology lab.
If the patient dies at home or in a nursing home:
Brain tissue must be examined within 24 to 48 hours of death so it is important to make arrangements ahead of time. You should:
1. Call the Alzheimer’s Association at (800) 272-3900 and ask for a referral to a chapter of their organization in your area to help you.
2. Keep the nursing home aware of your intentions so they will act swiftly and properly when the patient dies.
3. Locate a mortuary that permits and can accommodate a pathologist to remove tissue from the body. Keep the mortuary informed of your desires so they keep the body refrigerated and do not treat it with any chemicals.
4. The local Alzheimer’s Association chapter should give you a list of pathologists willing to remove brain tissue. Upon death, call any of them.
5. The pathologist you have hired will go to the mortuary, remove necessary brain tissue, and ship or deliver the tissue to a neuropathology lab.
6. The neuropathology laboratory that has agreed to examine the tissue will send the results directly to you. This procedure is usually not covered by insurance.
Text and illustrations by Kevin T. Boyd