United States: Tissue samples are important when studying particular conditions, including Autism spectrum disorders, and brain cortical tissue is particularly important, as reported by HealthDay.
As expected, getting our samples is a very big challenge.
Nevertheless, there is a significant demand for brain tissue, but donations remain scarce and cannot be harvested.
Importance of Brain Tissue
Writing in the Frontiers in Neurology in December 2024, researchers explain how human tissue serves an important purpose when it comes to autism in scientific research.
What many families of individuals with autism are aware of is explained by the writers. They state that “the underlying biological mechanisms are poorly understood, the basis for an individual’s autism is not determined, and clinical care is often suboptimal.”
Specialists usually do not know about what specific factors cause autism, and there is much to learn about the causes, the diagnosis of the condition, and its treatment.
Moreover, autism signs and symptoms are diverse. The co-morbidities include anxiety, sleeping disorders, epilepsy as well as gastrointestinal disorders.
Highlighted in the study is Autism BrainNet, an outlined program that is meant to inform the autistic and their families on the availability of this chance, the procedure, and heritage in research by individual donors.
Surprising facts about brain donation
It is a comforting process at a time that is extremely painful for these families, tells Autism BrainNet’s Scientific Director David G. Amaral, Distinguished Professor at the UC Davis MIND Institute and the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.
“Despite the grief of losing a loved one, we often hear from families that working with Autism BrainNet helps keep the memory of their loved one alive and builds on the legacy they leave,” he said in a press release. “It brings something positive and hopeful to an otherwise traumatic event.
We encourage autistic people and their families to learn about brain donation before the end of life is imminent to reduce the stress of decision-making,” he said.
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Autism is a neurological disorder; however, the exact cause and structure of the disorder remain unknown.
However, genetics is still not well understood and requires further investigations, including severe research on brain tissues where pathology is manifested.
As the study describes, postmortem analysis of the brain tissue is the best way to assess the brain at the cellular and molecular level, Amaral said.
A Seamless and Supportive Donation Process
“It’s vital research that may someday inform new approaches for managing the disabilities of autism according to a person’s individual goals and abilities,” which, he said, is part of the reason that Autism BrainNet maintains a 24/7 phone hotline and website to answer questions and explain what a family can expect from the postmortem donation process, as reported by HealthDay.
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“Once consent for a donation is obtained, we handle all logistics (at no cost to families) and then store the gifted brain tissue in our state-of-the-art facilities,” Amaral concluded.