Parkinson's Brain Bank
The Parkinson's Brain Bank is the UK's largest human brain bank
dedicated to Parkinson's disease. It is based at Imperial College
London and is funded by the Parkinson's Disease Society (PDS).
 "The Parkinson's
Brain Bank is helping uncover the causes for Parkinson's and this
moves us closer to a cure.
"There is every possibility that research made possible by
us will lead to the next big breakthrough in
Parkinson's."
Dr David Dexter
Scientific Director, Parkinson's Brain Bank
What the Parkinson's Brain Bank does
The Parkinson's Brain Bank collects the brain, spinal cord and a
sample of cerebrospinal fluid from people - with and without
Parkinson's - after death. We provide this brain tissue to
researchers around the world who are working towards a cure for
Parkinson's.
Find out more about what the Parkinson's
Brain Bank does
Desperate need for more donors
 Researchers face a
desperate shortage of brains that are required for essential
research.
Research using donated human brain tissue has led to important
medical breakthroughs such as the development of anti-Parkinson's
drugs.
Why do we need a
Parkinson's Brain Bank?
 We need a
Parkinson's Brain Bank because only humans get Parkinson's – so
research needs to be carried out on human brains. But it is
impossible to study the living brain without doing any damage.
Also, today's neuro-imaging techniques are limited. This means that
the best way to study nerve cells is to look at the human brain
after death.
By comparing a Parkinson's brain with a brain without the
condition, researchers can understand what causes Parkinson's.
Using this knowledge, they can make better treatments and
ultimately find a cure - a treatment that allows people to live a
life free of all symptoms.
Image: Science Photo Library
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