title: Brain bank of the Brazilian aging brain study group - a milestone reached and more than 1,600 collected brains.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  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 400 US dollars. To date, 14 laboratories have been benefited by the BBBABSG.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Sao Paulo, SP 01246-903, Brazil. leagrinberg@usp.br
authors.forename: Lea Tenenholz
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Grinberg
authors.forename: Renata Eloah de Lucena
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Ferretti
authors.forename: José Marcelo
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Farfel
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Leite
authors.forename: Carlos Augusto
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Pasqualucci
authors.forename: Sérgio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rosemberg
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nitrini
authors.forename: Paulo Hilário Nascimento
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Saldiva
authors.forename: Wilson Jacob
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Filho
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D001921:Brain; D001938:Brazil; D005006:Ethnicity; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D014015:Tissue Banks / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies