Diseased brains are plentiful. What my staff and I are constantly searching for is healthy, successfully aged brains for comparisons in experiments. We have three main areas of focus - Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia.
All departments share tissue information and collaborate with one another.
The brain bank is near capacity with about 250 brains in storage, some frozen and others in formaldehyde. Two years ago, a plea to Leisure World residents netted 40 brain donations from 800 seniors - a real boost to the brain bank, Cummings says. A brain must be retrieved within 12 hours of the donor's death. As that time approaches, Cummings keeps his pager close at hand. When it beeps, his people go into action.