AbstractBackgroundAlzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) continue to be highly debilitating, particularly among older Latinos. Latinos are 1.5x more likely to develop ADRD compared to Non‐Hispanic Whites. Even though Latinos comprise 18.5% of the US population, only 8% participate in ADRD research, which is a significant problem given the substantial public health burden of ADRD among this population. Specifically, there is a dearth of brain tissue currently available that is essential for confirming clinical ADRD diagnoses. The purpose of this abstract is to present preliminary findings on a study looking at the perceptions and attitudes related to brain donation (BD) among older Latinos.MethodSemi‐structured phone interviews were conducted over the phone in English or Spanish. Questionnaires were administered to assess demographic characteristics, psychological acculturation, fatalism, and knowledge of aging‐related research relevant to AD. The interview was used to guide participants in the topic of BD and their willingness to BD. All interviews were audio‐recorded and transcribed.ResultParticipants included 40 community‐dwelling Latinos living in the US (Mean age: 59.4, SD=7.35). The majority of participants were female (67.5%) and had an average of 12.55 (SD=3.21) years of education. Most participants were born in Mexico (85%), 10% in the US, and 5% in another Latin American country. Preliminary findings from a subsample of transcripts and the interviewer’s notes indicate some initial but salient themes, including but not limited to 1) lack of information and awareness about BD; 2) key social and cultural factors influencing willingness to donate; and (3) Interviewees’ recommendations for engaging and increasing Latinos BD knowledge and study participation.ConclusionBetter understanding attitudes and perceptions of BD for ADRD research can facilitate targeted culturally‐relevant approaches for increasing autopsy consent that will have a significant and enduring impact on eliminating critical barriers in ADRD for Latinos. Work generated from this study will be used to develop a survey instrument to assess dimensions of diverse Latino willingness to consent to BD research with the goal to increase Latino participation in BD studies that will help address the disparities that exist in this population.