Why do we need research on post-mortem brain tissue?

There are limits to the research that can be done on the brain of a living person; and thus it is essential to have people who want to a part of research pledge to donate their brains.

Post-mortem brain research is very important to developing better diagnoses, evidence-based treatment and prevention strategies for both Traumatic Brain Injury TBI and also Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD.  

Why are female brains needed?

Donation of female brains is necessary for medical and scientific research to compare to what we already know about male brains.  

In the past, the focus of TBI research has been primarily based on men, without recruitment of women to pledge their brains, thus resulting in very little and postmortem research on the brains of females. While there is postmortem brain tissue available for the study of brain injury in men, there is almost none for women.

Also, as far as the history of published research on Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) in women, there have only been two peer-reviewed journal articles published, both in the early 1990s, addressing female CTE – one case of an autistic young woman and the “Case of the Punch-Drunk Wife,” about a woman with a history of domestic violence. Both of these women’s brains were examined only by chance, as autism is rare in women, and the corpse of the battered wife had “cauliflower ears,” which interested scientists already engaged in a research study of the brains of boxers.

The PINK Concussions #PINKBrainPledge is the first initative to recruit female veterans - as well as active-duty and civilian women - to enroll in TBI and PTSD research.

When did the #PINKBrainPledge start?

In December 2017, the National PTSD Brain Bank announced they will be partnering with PINK Concussions to actively recruit women over the age of 18 to pledge to donate their brains to participate in research about TBI and/or PTSD.

In Jan 2018, the Dept of Veteran's Affairs announced US PINK Concussions is collaborating with the Dept of Veteran's Affairs' National PTSD Brain Bank to recruit female veterans, active-duty members and civilians to be a part of brain injury and PTSD research.

In May 2018, we added two additional brain banks to our #PINKBrainPledge with Mount Sinai in the US and UHN in Canada.

In Dec 2019, the PINK Concussions #PINKBrainPledge UK was launched on @BBCScotNine segment w/@BBCJohnBeattie with @WillStewNeuro from @GlasgowBIRG Also, 🧠 pledges from @BBCScotNine legendary ⚽️World Cup star Rose Reilly, 🥋Judo Medalist Connie Ramsay @xxconnerzx, 🏉Lee Cockburn @lee_leecockburn.

What if I am already an organ donor?

If you pledged to donate your organ on your driver's licence, this pledge  does not cover the brain. Brain donation is a separate process. You can do both types of donations.