About Pre-Donor Registration
Information on donor registration
〜For the Next Generation〜
Pre-registration with the brain bank is a way for individuals to express their well-considered wish to contribute to medical research by donating their brain after death. It is a formal record of that intention. When a registered individual passes away, and if their family consents, the brain can be preserved in Brain Bank for Aging Research in accordance with the Postmortem Preservation Act, and used for medical research in line with the agreed terms.
※Please see our brochure for details.
289 people (as of March 19, 2025)
※Number of brain donors: 125 people
Donor Registration Process
Guide materials
Brochure
News letter
If you are interested, we will be happy to send you relevant information materials. Please contact our office by phone or email to request them.
If you are requesting by email, please include your name, address, age, and phone number.
If you have any questions or need further information, feel free to contact our office at any time using the contact details below.
Donor Registration Q&A
- QWhat kinds of research uses donated brain tissue?
- ADonated brain tissue is used in research aimed at understanding brain-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
For example, in Alzheimer’s disease, it is believed that the accumulation of amyloid-beta protein—forming what are known as “senile plaques”—and tau protein—forming “neurofibrillary tangles”—in the brain leads to the disruption of normal nerve cell function.
These protein accumulations damage neurons, and research is ongoing to understand the mechanisms behind this process and develop effective treatments. A wide range of studies are being conducted every day to uncover how these changes occur and how they might be prevented or reversed.
- QIs brain donation mandatory after pre-registration?
- APre-registration is entirely voluntary and can be reconsidered or withdrawn at any time. If you change your mind, you are free to cancel your registration whenever you wish.
In addition, brain donation will not be carried out unless your family provides consent for pathological examination after your death. Therefore, pre-registration does not impose any obligation or legal binding at the time of registration.
- QCan a person diagnosed with dementia register?
- ASince pre-registration is based on the individual's expressed intent, it is only accepted when the person has the capacity to make informed decisions.
However, if the individual’s decision-making ability has declined due to dementia or other illnesses, we do accept registration by a proxy—typically a family member—if they believe the individual would have wished to support the brain bank while they were still in good health.
This approach reflects both the family's desire to contribute to those suffering from the same illness, and our brain bank’s philosophy: that reaching a definitive diagnosis through pathological examination is a vital part of fulfilling the responsibility of medical care.
- QHow is personal information handled?
- APersonal information is strictly protected through anonymization and up-to-date security measures. Each sample provided to researchers is anonymized to ensure that individuals cannot be identified. In addition, robust safeguards are in place to prevent unauthorized access or cyberattacks on our data systems. We manage all personal information with the utmost care and attention.
- QCan healthy individuals register?
- AWe also accept registrations from individuals who are healthy and do not have age-related neurological diseases. By comparing the brains of healthy individuals with those of people with neurological conditions, researchers can better understand how the brain changes with aging. These healthy brains serve as a valuable resource for studying the mechanisms that protect against neurological diseases, even in old age.
Our brain bank welcomes registrations from people aged 20 and older, across a wide range of age groups.
For Donor Families
Donor Registration Guide
We welcome inquiries not only from individuals considering donor registration, but also from their family members.
Whether you’re wondering, “My parent is interested in registering,” “What exactly is a brain bank?” or “What should the family do?” — please feel free to contact us at any time. We are here to help.
Emergency Contact※Emergency Contact Information※
For urgent matters regarding the autopsy of a registered brain donor, please call the Brain Bank mobile phone (the number is printed on your donor card), or contact the main switchboard of our center at 03-3964-1141.
When calling, please clearly state that you have an urgent message regarding a brain donor autopsy for the brain bank, and ask to be connected to the appropriate staff member.
For Families of Donors
We also welcome inquiries from families (bereaved relatives) whose loved ones have already contributed to the brain bank through postmortem brain donation.
For publicly available information about the research, please refer to the links below.
Public Notice
We provide research-related information to the families and related parties of those who have contributed to the brain bank.
We disclose information about the use of donated samples and data in medical research to the families of patients who gave consent to participate in Brain Bank for Aging Research.