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Brain bank of the Brazilian aging brain study group—a milestone reached and more than 1,600 collected brains

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Abstract

Introduction

Brain banking remains a necessity for the study of aging brain processes and related neurodegenerative diseases. In the present paper, we report the methods applied at and the first results of the Brain Bank of the Brazilian Aging Brain Study Group (BBBABSG) which has two main aims: (1) To collect a large number of brains of elderly comprising non-demented subjects and a large spectrum of pathologies related to aging brain processes, (2) To provide quality material to a multidisciplinar research network unraveling multiple aspects of aging brain processes and related neurodegenerative diseases.

Methods

The subjects are selected from the Sao Paulo Autopsy Service. Brain parts are frozen and fixated. CSF, carotids, kidney, heart and blood are also collected and DNA is extracted. The neuropathological examinations are carried out based on accepted criteria, using immunohistochemistry. Functional status are assessed through a collateral source based on a clinical protocol. Protocols are approved by the local ethics committee and a written informed consent form is obtained.

Results

During the first 21 months, 1,602 samples were collected and were classified by Clinical Dementia Rating as CDR0: 65.7%; CDR0.5:12.6%, CDR1:8.2%, CDR2:5.4%, and CDR3:8.1%. On average, the cost for the processing each case stood at US$400. To date, 14 laboratories have been benefited by the BBBABSG.

Conclusion

The high percentage of non-demented subjects and the ethnic diversity of this series may be significantly contributive toward aging brain processes and related neurodegenerative diseases understanding since BBBABSG outcomes may provide investigators the answers to some additional questions.

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Abbreviations

BBASG:

Brazilian Brain Aging Study Group

BBBABSG:

Brain Bank of the Brazilian Aging Brain Study Group

CNS:

Central nervous system

CS:

Collateral source

ICF:

Informed consent form

NOK:

Next-of-kin

PMI:

Postmortem interval

SPAS:

Sao Paulo autopsy service

USPMS:

University of Sao Paulo Medical School

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Prof. H. Heinsen (Julius Maximilians University Wurzburg, Germany) and to Larenda Mielke (Washington University in St Louis, USA) for them critical review. We also thank Sao Paulo Autopsy Service physicians and staff for unconditional support, BBASG’s students for outstanding assistance and the staff of Pathology Department of University of Sao Paulo Medical School for technical support.

Support for this work was provided by grants from the Pathology Department and Geriatrics Division of University of Sao Paulo Medical School Research and Teaching Institute of Albert Einstein Hospital (Sao Paulo), Toxicology Department of Butantan Institute (Sao Paulo), Coordenadoria de Apoio ao Pessoal de Nivel Superior—CAPES Scholarship (to LTG), and Fundação de Apoio à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo - FAPESP Scholarship (to LTG).

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Correspondence to Lea Tenenholz Grinberg.

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Grinberg, L.T., de Lucena Ferretti, R.E., Farfel, J.M. et al. Brain bank of the Brazilian aging brain study group—a milestone reached and more than 1,600 collected brains. Cell Tissue Banking 8, 151–162 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10561-006-9022-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10561-006-9022-z

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