Heiko Braak

Heiko Braak (born 1937) is a German neuroanatomist and neuropathologist known for his extensive work in the field of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. His research has significantly contributed to the understanding of the pathological processes underlying these diseases.

Early Life and Education

Braak was born in Germany in 1937. He studied medicine at the University of Hamburg, where he received his medical degree in 1963. He then specialized in neuroanatomy and neuropathology, focusing on the study of the human brain and its diseases.

Career and Research

Braak began his career as a researcher at the University of Frankfurt, where he worked until 1972. He then moved to the University of Ulm, where he served as the head of the Department of Neuroanatomy until his retirement in 2002.

Braak's research has primarily focused on the pathological processes underlying neurodegenerative diseases. He is best known for developing the Braak Staging, a method for categorizing the progression of Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease based on the accumulation of tau protein and alpha-synuclein in the brain. This method has been widely adopted in the field of neuropathology and has significantly contributed to the understanding of these diseases.

Braak's work has also led to the identification of the enteric nervous system as a possible starting point for Parkinson's disease, suggesting that the disease may originate in the gut before spreading to the brain. This theory, known as the Braak Hypothesis, has sparked significant interest and debate in the scientific community.

Honors and Awards

Braak has received numerous awards for his contributions to the field of neuropathology, including the Metropolitan Life Foundation Award for Medical Research in Alzheimer's Disease and the Klingenstein Award in the Neurosciences.

See Also

• Neurodegenerative diseases
• Parkinson's disease
• Alzheimer's disease
• Braak Staging
• Braak Hypothesis