TYPES OF TISSUES
ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive brain disorder that gradually destroys an individual’s memory, behaviour, personality, and ability to carry out normal daily activities. Prominent features of AD-related changes in the brain are accumulation of abnormal proteins including beta-amyloid plaques and tau neurofibrillary tangles.
Despite many advances in neurodegenerative disease research, the causes are not known. There is a great deal that must be learned so that we may one day cure these debilitating diseases.
OTHER NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES
There are neurodegenerative diseases that have symptoms similar to Alzheimer's Disease but are caused by different changes in the brain. It is for this reason an autopsy must be performed.
Other neurodegenerative diseases include:
DEMENTIA WITH LEWY BODIES
Dementia with Lewy bodies, the second most frequent neurodegenerative disease causing dementia, also affects memory, language, and ability to reason. It is marked by an accumulation of abnormal protein called alpha-synuclein inside neurons.
FRONTOTEMPORAL DEMENTIA
Frontotemporal dementia, is a less common degenerative brain illness that causes dementia, personality changes and language difficulties and is marked by Pick Bodies.
VASCULAR DEMENTIA
Vascular dementia results from reduced blood flow to the brain’s nerve cells and often occurs with AD and results in a “mixed dementia".
types of tissues available
The Maritime Brain Tissue Bank (MBTB) collects and archives tissue from a variety of neurodegenerative disease, including:
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Alzheimer's Disease
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Normal controls
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Mixed Dementias
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Vascular Dementia
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Dementia with Lewy Bodies
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Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
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Parkinson's Disease
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Frontotemporal Dementia
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Huntington's Disease
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Multiple Sclerosis
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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis