Category: Medical Research

New York resident Seton Melvin had a decade-long career in finance culminating in her appointment as the vice president of Mitsubishi Bank. Now focused on facilitating research into human brains that have undergone clinically documented injuries, Seton Melvin is the director of the Brain Donor Program at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City.

Mt. Sinai is devoted to fighting Alzheimer’s, dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases by deepening its understanding of the brain, its genetic components, and the causes of these diseases. Brain tissue donation supports this research, ultimately enabling scientists to develop better diagnostic mechanisms and treatments.

As of now, only an autopsy done after a person has died can conclusively identify Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Researchers study donated brain tissue to identify locations of amyloid plaques, the hallmark of Alzheimer’s. They also look for other brain formations that signal neurodegenerative disease. One human brain can be used for hundreds of studies, increasing the chances of finding a cure for complex diseases. An accurate diagnosis can also help the deceased’s family members understand their risk of developing the disease themselves.

Both patients with dementia and those without can donate their brain. The process is simple. The person contacts the hospital’s brain donation program, signs a consent form, and designates a representative to contact the hospital when he or she dies. The hospital will take care of transporting the body to the autopsy lab where brain tissue is removed through an opening at the back of the head. It is important to note that brain donations are free. They do not alter or delay funeral arrangements and do not result in disfigurement.