Alzheimer's DNA Bank
Alzheimer's DNA Bank
Paula Grammas, PhD, Executive Director of the Garrison Institute on Aging became the Principle Investigator of the DNA Bank in the Fall of 2008. The DNA Bank was created in November of 1993 with funding from the State of Texas. It currently has enrolled over 2,400 families of patients with memory problems and over 9,500 family members. The DNA bank is a collection of DNA samples from patients and their family members who live within Texas and the country. The DNA is taken from the blood given when a person enrolls into the DNA bank. The DNA is used for genetic research to find the cause of Alzheimer's disease. The DNA bank includes samples from the patient and the spouse, the patient's brothers and sisters and their spouses, the children and their spouses, and even the grandchildren. If the parents are still alive, we try to have them participate as well. Patients with other neurological diseases, such as Parkinson's disease or Multiple Sclerosis are also enrolled in this research program. At this time, no new enrollments are being accepted.
Alzheimer's DNA Research Brain Bank
In order to confirm the clinical diagnosis for the Alzheimer’s, a brain autopsy is required thus the creation of the Alzheimer’s DNA Research Brain Bank. This program is available to all the currently enrolled research participants of the DNA Bank at no cost to the families.