Factors associated with brain donation among optimally healthy elderly people

Background Consent rates for brain donation were examined in 140 healthy el derly participants of the Oregon Brain Aging Study, a longitudinal study of successful aging. Subjects were initially selected for good health. The st udy population had a relatively high education level, a high socioeconomic status, and were predominantly white. Methods. At each annual examination, a project physician asked participants to consider brain donation. This analysis examined variables that may affe ct the rate of brain donation consent: age, gender, education, socioeconomi c status, marital status, religiosity, cognitive status, depression, and fu nctional status. Results. Of these variables only age was a meaningful factor. Conclusion. The oldest old participants (greater than or equal to 85 years of age) were more likely to consent to donation than the younger participan ts(65-84 years of age).