Activities of Brain Bank for Aging Research

Features and Role
Three Pillars
Public Lecture
Research Achievements

Features and Role

One of the key features of Brain Bank for Aging Research is that it includes not only healthy and diseased brains, but also a large number of brains in intermediate stages between normal aging and disease. This reflects our belief that studying the full spectrum—from healthy to pathological brains, even in old age—can help uncover the secrets of maintaining brain health and achieving longevity. Aging is considered a continuous process between health and disease, and therefore requires comprehensive research across this entire continuum.
An essential role of the brain bank is to provide researchers in the medical field with human neural tissue that is suitable for their specific research purposes. Brain Bank for Aging Research systematically collects and stores postmortem human brains along with neuropathological diagnoses, and, with approval from an ethics committee, provides these valuable resources to both domestic and international researchers aiming to understand and treat age-related neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
The brain bank could not function without the generosity of patients and families who wish to donate brain tissue. We deeply value these contributions and remain committed to fulfilling our role in addressing the challenges of an aging society.

Brain Bank for Aging Research Ethical Guidelines Brain Bank for Aging Research Operational Guidelines

Illustration of a woman looking through a microscope

Three Pillars

Brain Bank for Aging Research operates based on three main pillars.
The first pillar involves analyzing and comparing each individual’s clinical symptoms and changes—along with imaging findings from MRI, SPECT, and PET—with pathological findings obtained through direct examination of brain tissue. Clinical and pathological diagnoses are often challenging, but these analyses can directly benefit current patients by contributing to more accurate assessments and improved care.
The second pillar focuses on fundamental research conducted at universities and research institutions. This includes studies aimed at uncovering the mechanisms underlying diseases and supporting the development of new therapeutic agents.
The third pillar is education—for medical students, physicians, and healthcare professionals at universities and hospitals. We believe this is essential because without nurturing the next generation, the generous contributions of those who have registered with the brain bank may not be fully utilized. Understanding the difficulty and importance of diagnosis—and recognizing the ongoing gap between clinical and pathological diagnoses—is crucial. This gap does not indicate misdiagnosis, but rather reflects the increasing complexity of diagnosis due to advances in medical technologies and tools. To ensure accurate interpretation, it is important to systematically organize and analyze the data.