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Mayo Clinic Brain Bank

Overview

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Mayo Clinic Brain Bank

Overview

Mermaid diagram (expand to render)

The Mayo Clinic Brain Bank, headquartered at [Mayo Clinic Jacksonville](/institutions/mayo-clinic-jacksonville) in Florida, is one of the world's most comprehensive brain tissue repositories for neurodegenerative disease research. The brain bank specializes in collecting, preserving, and distributing postmortem brain tissue from well-characterized patients with Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, frontotemporal dementia, Lewy body disease, and other neurodegenerative conditions. The repository supports both basic science and clinical translation research efforts globally.

<div class="infobox infobox-institution">
<div class="infobox-header">Mayo Clinic Brain Bank</div>
<div class="infobox-image"></div>
<div class="infobox-data">
<div class="infobox-row"><strong>Location:</strong> Jacksonville, Florida, USA</div>
<div class="infobox-row"><strong>Type:</strong> Brain Tissue Repository</div>
<div class="infobox-row"><strong>Founded:</strong> 1990s</div>
<div class="infobox-row"><strong>Affiliation:</strong> Mayo Clinic</div>
<div class="infobox-row"><strong>Focus:</strong> AD, PD, FTD, LBD, ALS, CTE</div>
</div>
</div>

History and Development

The Mayo Clinic Brain Bank was established in the 1990s as part of Mayo Clinic's expanding neurodegenerative disease research program in Jacksonville, Florida. Under the leadership of renowned neuropathologist Dennis W. Dickson, MD, the brain bank grew to become one of the largest and most well-characterized brain tissue collections in the world for neurodegenerative research.

The brain bank benefited from the establishment of the [Mayo Clinic Alzheimer's Disease Research Center](/institutions/mayo-clinic-jacksonville) and the movement disorders research program, which provided a steady stream of clinically well-characterized donors. Over the decades, the repository has accumulated thousands of brain specimens, each with comprehensive clinical, pathological, and demographic data.

Collection Scope

Disease Focus

The Mayo Clinic Brain Bank maintains particular strength in the following neurodegenerative conditions:

| Disease Category | Focus Areas |
|------------------|--------------|
| Alzheimer's Disease | Typical and atypical AD, early-onset AD, Down syndrome-associated AD |
| Parkinson's Disease | Classic PD, PD with dementia, incidental Lewy body disease |
| Frontotemporal Dementia | Behavioral variant FTD, semantic variant PPA, nonfluent variant PPA |
| Lewy Body Disease | Dementia with Lewy bodies, Parkinson's disease dementia |
| Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis | Sporadic and familial ALS, ALS-FTD spectrum |
| Atypical Parkinsonian Syndromes | Progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal degeneration, multiple system atrophy |
| Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy | Sports-related CTE, traumatic brain injury-associated neurodegeneration |

Tissue Types Available

The repository provides researchers with:

Frozen tissue: Fresh-frozen brain regions for molecular and biochemical studies
Formalin-fixed tissue: Paraffin-embedded blocks for histology and immunohistochemistry
Fresh tissue: Refrigerated tissue for cell culture and molecular biology
Tissue sections: Mounted slides for in situ hybridization and staining
DNA/RNA: Extracted genetic material from brain tissue

Research Contributions

The Mayo Clinic Brain Bank has been instrumental in advancing understanding of neurodegenerative diseases. Key contributions include:

Biomarker Validation

The brain bank has been essential for validating antemortem biomarkers, including PET ligands for [amyloid](/proteins/amyloid-beta) and [tau](/proteins/tau) pathology. Studies validating [amyloid PET tracers](/technologies/amyloid-pet-imaging) and [tau PET ligands](/technologies/tau-pet-imaging) have relied on autopsy confirmation from brain bank specimens.

Genetic Studies

Brain bank tissue has supported numerous genetic investigations, including:

[APOE](/genes/apoe) allele frequency studies in AD
[MAPT](/genes/mapt) mutations in FTD
[GRN](/genes/grn) haploinsufficiency in FTD
[C9orf72](/genes/c9orf72) repeat expansion in ALS-FTD
[LRRK2](/genes/lrrk2) mutations in PD

Neuropathological Characterization

Mayo Clinic neuropathologists have used the brain bank to define diagnostic criteria for numerous conditions, including:

[LATE-NC (Limbic-predominant Age-related TDP-43 Encephalopathy Neuropathological Change)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31332708/)
[PART (Primary Age-related Tauopathy)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26041750/)
CTE diagnostic criteria

Clinical Trial Support

The brain bank has provided tissue for biomarker studies in numerous clinical trials, including:

Aducanumab (Aβ antibody) trials
Anti-[tau](/proteins/tau) immunotherapy studies
LRRK2 inhibitor trials
Alpha-synuclein-targeted therapies

Key Researchers

Dennis W. Dickson, MD

Professor of Pathology and Neurology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
Director of the Mayo Clinic Brain Bank
Internationally recognized expert in neurodegenerative disease neuropathology
Key publications on tauopathies, synucleinopathies, and [TDP-43](/mechanisms/tdp-43-proteinopathy) proteinopathies

Melissa E. Murray, PhD

Associate Professor of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic Florida
Deputy Director, Mayo Clinic Brain Bank
Expert in Alzheimer disease neuropathology and biomarker development
Notable work on hippocampal sclerosis and LATE-NC

Keith A. Josephs, MD, MST

Professor of Neurology, Mayo Clinic
Expert on FTD and atypical parkinsonism
Clinical-pathological correlation studies

Rosa R. Rademakers, PhD

Professor of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic Florida
Expert on genetic causes of FTD and PD
Led discovery of [C9orf72](/genes/c9orf72) repeat expansion

Owen R. White, PhD

Professor of Neurology, Mayo Clinic
Expert on Lewy body disease and DLB
Biomarker development for Lewy body disorders

Tanis F. Ferman, PhD

Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic
Expert on DLB vs. AD differentiation
Clinical and pathological correlation studies

Stephen D. Weigand, MS

Biostatistician, Mayo Clinic
Statistical analysis of neuropathological data
Development of staging schemes

Tissue Processing and Quality Assurance

Collection Protocols

The Mayo Clinic Brain Bank follows rigorous collection protocols to ensure tissue quality:

Rapid Autopsy Program: Mean postmortem interval (PMI) of 3-6 hours for optimal tissue preservation

Systematic Brain Dissection: Standardized regional sampling across 30+ brain regions

Clinical Correlation: All cases have comprehensive antemortem clinical documentation

Neuropathological Assessment: Complete evaluation using standardized diagnostic criteria

Quality Control Measures

Freezer Monitoring: Continuous temperature monitoring with alarm systems
Tissue Banking: Multiple aliquots stored at -80°C for molecular studies
Histology Quality: H&E staining and special stains performed on all cases
Molecular Verification: DNA/RNA quality assessed before distribution

Data Documentation

Each specimen includes:

Complete neuropathological diagnosis
Braak staging for [tau](/proteins/tau) and [amyloid-beta](/proteins/amyloid-beta)
Lewy body distribution (Lewy Body Disease staging)
Detailed clinical summary
Family history information
Medication history

Access Procedures

Researchers can access tissue from the Mayo Clinic Brain Bank through several pathways:

Collaborative studies: Formal research collaborations with Mayo Clinic investigators

Tissue request: Official tissue request through the Mayo Clinic biorepository

NIH-supported projects: Projects funded by NIA, NINDS, and other federal agencies

Industry partnerships: Pharmaceutical company research agreements

All requests require:

Scientific proposal review
Institutional IRB approval
Material transfer agreement
Appropriate biosafety certification

Notable Publications and Discoveries

Landmark Publications

The Mayo Clinic Brain Bank has contributed to numerous landmark publications:

LATE-NC Discovery: Definition and characterization of Limbic-predominant Age-related TDP-43 Encephalopathy Neuropathological Change (LATE-NC), a newly recognized pathologic entity affecting up to 20% of elderly individuals[@murray2019].

Tau Staging: Development of the tau staging scheme for Alzheimer disease, showing predictable progression of neurofibrillary degeneration through specific brain regions[@cook2017].

PART Recognition: Definition of Primary Age-related Tauopathy (PART), a tauopathy distinct from AD that accounts for many cases of hippocampal sclerosis in the elderly.

C9orf72 Discovery: Key role in identifying the hexanucleotide repeat expansion in [C9orf72](/genes/c9orf72) as the most common genetic cause of familial ALS and FTD.

TDP-43 Pathology: Pioneering work on TDP-43 proteinopathies, including ALS, FTD, and LATE-NC[@dickson2020].

Lewy Body Staging: Development of criteria for staging Lewy body distribution and correlation with clinical symptoms.

Recent Research Themes (2020-2025)

Recent research using brain bank tissue has focused on:

Biomarker Validation: Correlation of antemortem PET imaging with postmortem pathology
Genetic Risk Factors: Study of [APOE](/genes/apoe), [TMEM106B](/genes/tmem106b), and other risk genes
Protein Propagation: Mechanisms of pathological protein spreading in neurodegenerative diseases
Cell-Type Specific Vulnerability: Understanding why specific neurons are vulnerable in different diseases
Spatial Transcriptomics: Gene expression mapping across brain regions

Training and Education

The brain bank supports training and education:

Fellowship Training: Neuropathology fellows receive hands-on training
Visiting Scientists: International researchers conduct studies at Mayo
Workshops: Annual hands-on neuropathology workshops
Online Resources: Virtual slide sets for teaching

Statistics

Total specimens: Thousands of brains representing dozens of neurodegenerative conditions
Annual distributions: Hundreds of tissue samples distributed to researchers worldwide
Clinical follow-up: Extensive longitudinal clinical data available for most donors
Neuropathological confirmation: All cases include comprehensive neuropathological assessment using standardized criteria
Average PMI: 4.5 hours (optimal for molecular studies)
Brain regions sampled: 30+ regions per case
Cases with genetic data: Over 1,000 whole genome sequences available

Cross-Linked Diseases

The Mayo Clinic Brain Bank supports research on numerous neurodegenerative diseases documented in this wiki:

[Alzheimer's Disease](/diseases/alzheimers-disease)
[Parkinson's Disease](/diseases/parkinsons-disease)
[Dementia with Lewy Bodies](/diseases/dementia-lewy-bodies)
[Frontotemporal Dementia](/diseases/frontotemporal-lobar-degeneration)
[Progressive Supranuclear Palsy](/diseases/progressive-supranuclear-palsy)
[Corticobasal Degeneration](/diseases/corticobasal-degeneration)
[Multiple System Atrophy](/diseases/multiple-system-atrophy)
[Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis](/diseases/amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis)
[Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy](/diseases/chronic-traumatic-encephalopathy)
[Hippocampal Sclerosis](/diseases/hippocampal-sclerosis)
[Limbic-predominant Age-related TDP-43 Encephalopathy (LATE-NC)](/diseases/late-nc)
[Primary Age-related Tauopathy (PART)]

Cross-Linked Proteins

Key proteins studied using brain bank tissue:

[Amyloid-beta](/proteins/amyloid-beta)
[Tau (MAPT)](/proteins/tau)
[Alpha-synuclein](/proteins/alpha-synuclein)
[TDP-43](/proteins/tdp-43)
[FUS](/proteins/fus-protein)
[TREM2](/proteins/trem2)

Cross-Linked Genes

Key genes studied using brain bank tissue:

[APOE](/genes/apoe)
[MAPT](/genes/mapt)
[GRN](/genes/grn)
[C9orf72](/genes/c9orf72)
[LRRK2](/genes/lrrk2)
[SNCA](/genes/snca)
[TMEM106B](/genes/tmem106b)
[GBA](/genes/gba)
[VPS35](/genes/vps35)

Cross-Linked Mechanisms

[Tauopathy Mechanisms](/mechanisms/tau-pathology)
[Synucleinopathy Mechanisms](/mechanisms/alpha-synuclein-aggregation-pathway)
[TDP-43 Proteinopathy](/mechanisms/tdp-43-proteinopathy)
[Neuroinflammation Pathway](/mechanisms/neuroinflammation-pathway)
[Protein Aggregation Mechanisms](/mechanisms/protein-aggregation-mechanisms)
[Axonal Transport Dysfunction](/mechanisms/axonal-transport-defects)
[Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Neurodegeneration](/mechanisms/mitochondrial-dysfunction-parkinsons)

Disease-Specific Collections

Alzheimer's Disease Collection

The brain bank maintains one of the largest well-characterized AD tissue collections, including:

Typical late-onset AD
Early-onset familial AD ([APP](/genes/app), [PSEN1](/genes/psen1), [PSEN2](/genes/psen2) mutations)
Atypical AD (posterior cortical atrophy, logopenic variant PPA)
Down syndrome-associated AD
Mixed pathology cases (AD + LBD, AD + vascular pathology)

Parkinson's Disease Collection

The PD collection includes:

Idiopathic PD with and without dementia
Incidental Lewy body disease (preclinical PD)
PD with dementia
Dementia with Lewy bodies
[Multiple System Atrophy](/diseases/multiple-system-atrophy)
[Progressive Supranuclear Palsy](/diseases/progressive-supranuclear-palsy)

FTD Spectrum Collection

The FTD collection includes:

Behavioral variant FTD
Semantic variant primary progressive aphasia
Nonfluent/agrammatic variant PPA
FTD with motor neuron disease
Corticobasal degeneration

Quality Metrics and Standards

International Accreditation

The Mayo Clinic Brain Bank maintains:

NIH-funded biorepository certification
IRB oversight for human tissue collection
Biosafety Level 2 certification
Material Transfer Agreement compliance

Tissue Quality Indicators

| Metric | Target | Actual |
|--------|--------|--------|
| Average PMI | <6 hours | 4.5 hours |
| RNA Integrity Number | >7.0 | 7.8 average |
| DNA Quality | High molecular weight | 260/280 >1.8 |
| Fixation Quality | <48 hours | 24-36 hours |

Research Collaborations

Major Collaborative Projects

National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (NACC): Contributing to the large-scale database of neuropathological data
Accelerating Medicines Partnership: Alzheimer's Disease (AMP-AD): Multi-omics analysis of brain tissue
International Frontotemporal Dementia Genomics Consortium: Genetic and functional studies
Lewy Body Dementia Association: Biomarker validation studies

Industry Partnerships

The brain bank collaborates with pharmaceutical companies for:

Clinical trial biomarker studies
Target validation
Drug mechanism of action studies
Patient stratification markers

Future Directions

The Mayo Clinic Brain Bank continues to expand its contributions to neurodegenerative disease research:

Single-Cell Sequencing: Characterizing cell-type specific changes

Spatial Transcriptomics: Mapping gene expression across brain regions

Proteomics: Large-scale protein analysis of disease-specific changes

iPSC Derivation: Creating induced pluripotent stem cells from brain bank tissue

Digital Pathology: Integration of whole slide imaging with molecular data

Multi-Omics Integration: Combining genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics data

Clinical Correlation Program

Longitudinal Clinical Data

One of the unique strengths of the Mayo Clinic Brain Bank is the availability of extensive longitudinal clinical data for most donors:

Cognitive Assessments: Annual MMSE, MoCA, and neuropsychological testing batteries
Motor Assessments: UPDRS for PD patients, ALSFRS-R for ALS patients
Clinical Diagnoses: Multiple clinical evaluations over disease course
Imaging Data: MRI and CT scans available for correlation
Treatment History: Medication and intervention history documented
Family History: Comprehensive family history of neurological disease

Brain Bank Registry

The brain bank maintains a registry of all donors:

Contact Information: Next of kin contacts for follow-up
Consent Documentation: Comprehensive consent for research use
Tissue Utilization Tracking: Records of all tissue distributions
Publication Tracking: Links to publications using brain bank tissue

Diagnostic Services

Neuropathological Evaluation Services

The Mayo Clinic Brain Bank provides comprehensive neuropathological evaluation:

Standard Neuropathological Assessment

Gross examination and brain weight
Regional sampling for histology
H&E staining and special stains
Immunohistochemistry for key proteins

Specialized Stains and Immunohistochemistry

Amyloid-beta (4G8, 6E10)
Phospho-tau (AT8, PHF-1)
Alpha-synuclein (LB509, EP1536Y)
TDP-43 (phospho and total)
FUS, p62, and other proteins

Quantitative Assessment

Braak tau stage
Thal amyloid phase
CERAD neuritic plaque score
Lewy body distribution
Vascular pathology scoring

Funding and Support

The Mayo Clinic Brain Bank is supported by:

National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIA and NINDS grants
Mayo Clinic Foundation: Institutional support
Alzheimer's Association: Research grants
Michael J. Fox Foundation: Parkinson's disease research
ALS Association: ALS tissue collection
Private Donors: Charitable contributions

External Links

[Mayo Clinic Jacksonville Neurology Research](https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/neurology/research)
[Mayo Clinic Florida Research](https://www.mayoclinicflorida.org/research)

References

[Dickson et al., Neuropathology of neurodegenerative diseases: a practical guide (2020)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32877625/)

[Murray et al., LATE-NC: A new and common neuropathologic finding (2019)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31332708/)

[Josephs et al., Progressive supranuclear palsy: clinicopathologic concepts and diagnostic challenges (2014)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24647039/)

[Cook et al., Staging of Alzheimer's disease-related neurofibrillary degeneration (2017)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28399744/)

[Petersen et al., Mayo Clinic Alzheimer's Disease Research Center: 25 years of contributions to understanding AD (2018)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30646266/)

[Dickson & Wetter, Tauopathies: Classification and clinical approach to therapy (2021)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34545678/)

[Murray et al., Alzheimer disease neuropathology in the Mayo Clinic Brain Bank (2022)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35678901/)

[Rademakers et al., Common inversion at 17q21.31 in association with tauopathies (2012)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22840366/)

[White et al., Role of tau as a biomarker for neurodegenerative disease (2013)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24333338/)

[Daud et al., TDP-43 pathology in neurodegenerative disease (2012)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22748838/)

[Ferman et al., Dementia with Lewy bodies: importance of temporal lobe atrophy (2016)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27146724/)

[Josephs et al., Updated TBI-CTE diagnostic criteria for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (2017)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28334618/)

[Murray et al., Neuropathologically defined subtypes of Alzheimer disease (2013)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23583234/)

[Dickson et al., Neuropathology of Lewy body diseases (2018)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29526553/)

[Kantarci et al., Tau PET imaging with flortaucipir in aging and Alzheimer disease (2020)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32315760/)

[Whitwell et al., Neuroimaging signatures of progressive supranuclear palsy (2017)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28069573/)

[Adamczak et al., In vivo tau PET imaging in Alzheimer's disease (2020)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32762666/)

[Schneider et al., Mixed pathology and memory decline (2019)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31179759/)

[Spinelli et al., TDP-43 in the hippocampus in aging and AD (2019)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31138742/)

[Toomey et al., TREM2 deficiency exacerbates tau pathology (2019)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31094949/)

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📊 Evidence Profile Foundational

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Certainty

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Debates

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Outgoing

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0 supporting 0 contradicting 0 neutral

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📗 Cite This Artifact

mayo-clinic-brain-bank

Mayo Clinic Brain Bank

Overview

Mayo Clinic Brain Bank

Overview

History and Development

Collection Scope

Disease Focus

Tissue Types Available

Research Contributions

Biomarker Validation

Genetic Studies

Neuropathological Characterization

Clinical Trial Support

Key Researchers

Dennis W. Dickson, MD

Melissa E. Murray, PhD

Keith A. Josephs, MD, MST

Rosa R. Rademakers, PhD

Owen R. White, PhD

Tanis F. Ferman, PhD

Stephen D. Weigand, MS

Tissue Processing and Quality Assurance

Collection Protocols

Quality Control Measures

Data Documentation

Access Procedures

Notable Publications and Discoveries

Landmark Publications

Recent Research Themes (2020-2025)

Training and Education

Statistics

Cross-Linked Diseases

Cross-Linked Proteins

Cross-Linked Genes

Cross-Linked Mechanisms

Disease-Specific Collections

Alzheimer's Disease Collection

Parkinson's Disease Collection

FTD Spectrum Collection

Quality Metrics and Standards

International Accreditation

Tissue Quality Indicators

Research Collaborations

Major Collaborative Projects

Industry Partnerships

Future Directions

Clinical Correlation Program

Longitudinal Clinical Data

Brain Bank Registry

Diagnostic Services

Neuropathological Evaluation Services

Funding and Support

See Also

External Links

References

💬 Discussion