Should We Have An Autopsy Performed?

Before your loved one, who has dementia, passes on, you have a small, but important decision to make regarding the physical confirmation of his or her former disease.

A brain autopsy is the only way to confirm a clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease. Why is something like this necessary?

Much of what is currently known about Alzheimer's disease was learned through research studies of autopsy brain tissue. This research has provided knowledge on the causes of symptoms, patient responsiveness to medications, and the brain's aging process. Surviving family members will then also have the diagnosis in their medical history. If preventable therapies become available, these relatives may benefit.

If your loved one participated in any clinical trials, that data will prove to be useful for the clinical physicians. Plus, because caring for a loved one with dementia is full of uncertainties for caregivers, having the diagnosis confirmed may be a relief for the family and help them to cope with their loss.

Sometimes family members feel that their loved one has been through enough suffering with their illness, and an autopsy will prolong the suffering. Families need to know that autopsies are performed by medical professionals with respect and concern for the dignity of the deceased. A pathologist performs a microscopic examination of brain tissue of the deceased, so a complete autopsy of the body is not necessary for the diagnosis. Only the brain tissue needs to be examined.

After the autopsy, your loved one will still be able to have an open casket funeral. There should be no disfigurement; the procedure should not delay the preparation of the body by the funeral for more than a few hours.

A letter will be sent to the next of kin to confirm the autopsy has been performed, and then the results will be sent to say whether Alzheimer's disease was present and if there were any other conditions affecting the brain.

Any concerns you and your family have should be discussed with your loved one's health care provider. Inform your doctor when the decision has been made, so it will be on the record and preparations can be made. The benefit to biomedical research allowed by having an autopsy is a way for patients and their families to leave an immortal legacy toward fighting this terrible disease.