Over the past 5 years the average rate of collection has been 32 brains per year, with 70–80% becoming part of the target research cohorts. The remainder were either unable to be clinically characterized or showed additional neuropathology (e.g., stroke, degenerative pathology). A strength of the NSWBTRC is the rigorous clinical and pathological screening of cases before they are made available to researchers. Extensive medical and lifestyle histories are obtained with over 120 features recorded for each case (Table 3). Cases from the Department of Forensic Medicine undergo a full autopsy so additional information such as comorbidities, liver pathology, toxicological screening, and blood alcohol levels at death is available. Pre-mortem or agonal information is also collected, including the rapidity of death, hypoxic events, neurotoxic substance ingestion, organ failure, head injury, coma, pyrexia, and sepsis.
