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106-year-old brain holds key to Parkinson’s disease A century old brain may assist researchers to unlock the mysteries of Parkinson's disease (PD), says the National Parkinson Foundation (NPF) in a recent report. Florence Rifenburgh donated her 106-year-old brain to the NPF/University of Miami (UM) Brain Endowment Bank to assist researchers in their quest to solve the puzzle of various neurological disorders including Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and Huntington’s disease. NPF/UM Brain Endowment Bank believe it is their oldest donated brain. ‘The donation of a control brain is the most altruistic gift; the opportunity to examine a razor sharp brain in its tenth decade of life will shed light and provide clues for all those who suffer from degenerative disorders,’said Deborah Mash, Director of the NPF/UM Brain Endowment Bank and recipient of the NPF/Jeanne Levey Parkinson Research Chair. Brain Bank scientists are currently researching the effects of aging on the brain. Data on brains of various ages and stages of disease are being compared to determine what causes the deterioration of cells. According to Brain Bank officials, one healthy brain can help study five or six different brain disorders. One of three national centres, the NPF/UM Brain Bank is only one specializing in PD, and has sectioned 600 brains and has an additional 800 pledged brains pending. The donor base includes both healthy and diseased brains which enables researchers to compare the difference between the two. Brain Bank officials keep extensive records on all brain donors. Information on the donors' medical and family history as well as lifestyle choices, i.e. drinking, eating habits, etc. are documented. This information is crucial to understanding why brains age and degenerate at different paces. National Parkinson’s Foundation. PRNewswire 1998 -- +----| Joao Paulo de Carvalho |------ + | [log in to unmask] | +--------| Salvador-Bahia-Brazil |------+