Calling all British brains

Scientists in the U.K. are appealing to the public to donate brains for research into autism, Alzheimerʼs disease and other conditions.

A new Brain Bank for Autism and Related Developmental Research, the first of its kind in the U.K., launched last summer but, apparently, there are fewer than 20 brains available so far.

In the U.S., the National Institutes of Health has 30 brains from individuals diagnosed with autism ― of 30,000 tissue samples stored in its brain bank. Nationwide, there are an estimated 305 brains available for autism research.

In a press conference this week, British researchers said more brain tissue would help them study the cellular and molecular bases of the disorder and called for donations of brains not just from those with autism, but also from individuals with epilepsy and from healthy controls.

Ideally, the researchers said, about 300 people a year would donate their brains for research purposes. Each donation would be allocated, with complete anonymity, to as many as 20 different studies.