Raised In Tribute
$300
LARRY'S STORY
Larry began his career as a professor of theater and stage design at Florida State University. Later at Ikegami, Larry managed sales of studio video equipment to broadcasters throughout the Americas.
One of Larry’s early symptoms, leg rigidity, was misdiagnosed as arthritis in 2000. In 2003, his slurred speech, falls, and cognitive dysfunction led to a misdiagnosis of stroke, though his neighbors suspected that he was alcoholic. Finally, a neurologist correctly diagnosed progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) in February 2004 at the age of 64.
Larry’s daughter, Robin, arranged for the donation of his brain upon his death in October 2007 to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville. Larry’s brain autopsy confirmed PSP and its tissue was included in a landmark study published in Nature Genetics in June 2011. In the study, researchers from Mayo Clinic and around the world identified three new genes linked to PSP.
Why Donate?
To obtain a confirmed diagnosis and to support research
The only way to obtain a confirmed diagnosis is through post-mortem tissue examination. At least half of the families we’ve assisted have been surprised by the confirmed diagnosis. Clinical diagnostic accuracy varies from 22% to 86%. A confirmed diagnosis, delivered via autopsy following brain donation, can bring peace of mind to children and grandchildren.
