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

Age-related neurodegenerative disorders are common causes of dementia-associated morbidity and mortality in populations throughout the world. Standardized, protocol-based methods for the examination and diagnosis of these disorders allow direct comparison between human cohorts and play a key role in understanding how these disorders impact our population. Further understanding of these protocols and harmonization with animal and in vitro investigative techniques is imperative to demonstrate relevance to human disease. The following is a concise protocol for the examination of human whole brain autopsy samples, with and without spinal cord, for the examination of neurodegenerative disorders. The following protocol is designed to provide samples appropriate for most neurodegenerative diseases. The collection of both fresh-frozen and formalin-fixed tissues is described.This guide presumes general knowledge of neuroanatomy of the human central nervous system. Tissue processing, detailed histological techniques and complete diagnostic examination of the brain is beyond the scope of this chapter; however, a limited evaluation appropriate for the evaluation of neurodegenerative disease is described here. Diagnostic protocols for the most common causes of dementia-associated, age-related neurodegenerative disorders are also summarized.