Heiko Braak

Heiko Braak ( born June 16, 1937 in Kiel) is a German anatomist who has made contributions inter alia, to neuroanatomy and neuropathology of Alzheimer 's disease and Parkinson 's disease. He is professor emeritus at the Institute for Clinical Neuroanatomy, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, which is dedicated in particular with research into degenerative processes of the human nervous system.

Braak studied medicine in Berlin, Hamburg and Kiel. After completing his medical studies, he received his doctorate in 1964 in Kiel with a dissertation on the central nervous system of cartilaginous fish. He described a Ependymstruktur in the basal diencephalon of Seekatze Chimaera monstrosa which he has called " organon vasculare praeopticum ". He also has the Neurohypophysenkomplex of the Black Thorn shark ( Etmopterus spinax ) described.

His research focuses on the morphology and pathoanatomy of the central nervous system of humans, especially the degenerative processes of the cerebral cortex (1980). Based on detailed anatomical studies Braak 1991, the Alzheimer 's disease divided into six stages ( Braak stages I-VI), which clarify the systematic course of the disease. A corresponding stages classification was revised in 2003 for the pathoanatomic changes in Parkinson 's disease.

Braak has also described the typical changes of the so-called silver grain disease (grain dementia).

Recently beat Braak and his colleagues a " double hit " hypothesis ago, after an unknown pathogen causing sporadic Parkinson 's disease by penetrating the nasal and intestinal mucosa.

Braak is the son of the philologist Ivo Braak and the brother of the stage director Kai Braak. In 2009 he was elected a member of the Leopoldina.

Footnotes

• Anatomist
• Pathologist
• University teachers (University of Frankfurt )
• Physician ( 20th century )
• Member of the Leopoldina ( 21st century)
• German
• Born in 1937
• Man