Proactive Recruitment of Older African-Americans for Alzheimer's Research with Brain Donation: a Cohort Case Study of Success.

BACKGROUND

Older African-American adults are under-recruited for Alzheimer's-related research that includes brain donation.

OBJECTIVE

This article describes the Minority Aging Research Study's brain donation challenges, processes, and successful procurement with older African-American adults (65 years and older).

DESIGN AND METHODS

The recruitment and retention strategy of the Minority Aging Research Study Brain Gifting Program was developed in accordance with Peplau's theory of interpersonal relationship and Swanson's middle-range theory of caring.

RESULTS

At the time of this submission, approximately 345 of 755 older African-American adults in the Minority Aging Research Study consented to brain donation to be completed at the time of death. Furthermore, the Minority Aging Research Study has had 33 successful brain donations with family amenability.

DISCUSSION

Tailored caring behaviors are effective to achieve high donation rates with older African-American adults who have consented to brain donation within an Alzheimer Research Study.

IMPLICATIONS

Changes in funding policy are needed to meet tailored active recruitment that is required to close the gaps in older African-American adults' participation in Alzheimer's-related research studies.