BANK-TRACTS

TRACTS has a new brain donation collaboration with the national center for PTSD!

TRACTS is teaming up with the VA PTSD Brain Bank to gather health information across the life span and after death. This one-of-a-kind project will help researchers and clinicians connect the dots between physical, mental, and lifestyle factors during life with neurological changes that can only be seen after death.

Participation in this research involves filling out surveys once a year by telephone, mail or on a secure Internet web site. These surveys will ask for things like your background, and physical and mental health history of you and your family, including whether you are currently experiencing PTSD or MDD symptoms or if you have experienced these symptoms in the past. You will be asked to complete a brief test of memory and concentration as well.

The neurologic tissue that you donate, consisting of your brain and spinal cord, would be collected after your death. The procedure will be done professionally and with dignity at the closest VA Medical Center or by medical professionals at another facility if the VA facility is unable to perform this in a timely manner. If your next of kin requests it, a copy of the pathology report will be provided when it becomes available.

https://www.research.va.gov/programs/tissue_banking/ptsd/