Tissues are collected and diagnoses are established using procedures shared between the Neuropathology Cores of the Oregon Health & Science University and the University of Washington Alzheimer’s Disease Centers. Flash-frozen tissues are obtained from nearly all donors, with extensive sampling in select instances. In most cases, 22 sections are taken following formalin fixation from all lobes of the left and right hemispheres, the white matter, deep gray structures, brainstem, cerebellum, and spinal cord. Sections are stained with hematoxylin and eosin/Luxol fast blue, Bielschowski silver staining, Congo Red, and for hyperphosphorylated tau and α-synuclein by immunohistochemistry.

Phenotypes collected include Alzheimer’s disease, family history of Alzheimer’s cognitively normal, healthy normal, dementia with Lewy bodies, frontotemporal dementia, tauopathy, and Parkinson’s. Fixed, frozen, block, and stained samples are available, and special tissue preparations can be collected. Postmortem ventricular fluid is collected.

Any investigator may request tissue. A materials transfer agreement between Oregon Health and Science University must be executed before tissues can be shipped. If corresponding clinical data is necessary, a data use agreement with the ADC must be executed as well.