November 10, 2022 12:00 AM
author:
Morgan Nelson
People with autism spectrum disorders have a wide range of abilities, sometimes different from most other people. Many doctors and researchers believe that parents of children with autism can understand the symptoms that, in some cases, interfere with their quality of life. As such, we are studying brain disorders in this group.
However, the brain is complex and studying the human brain is not an easy task. Not surprisingly, healthy human brain samples are not available to researchers, so scientists have come up with creative alternatives to study the brain. Scientists at the Utah Health College are now finding human brain cells in dishes that resemble some features of the developing human brain. This innovation will improve brain research and help us understand how brain conditions, including autism, develop.
Autism: what you need to know
Autism spectrum disorders affect 1 in 44 children, and boys are four times more likely to be diagnosed than girls. According to the American Brain Foundation, autism includes symptoms that can interfere with daily functioning, creating challenges in communication and social engagement. It is considered a developmental disorder because symptoms generally appear before the age of two. Autism is heavily influenced by genetics, and scientists believe that learning more about brain genetics could help explain some of the symptoms of autism.
brain research dish
Dr. Alex Shcheglovitov, Assistant Professor of Neurobiology at U of U Health, is now growing as a human being. brain organoid on a plate. These tiny brain clusters, about the size of a seed, aren’t exactly “mini-brains,” but they do have some of the same brain functions found in humans. wanted to create a reliable way to mimic aspects of early human brain development to study disease and disease.
To grow these brain clusters, scientists teach specific cells how to develop like brain cells. It’s like parts. Researchers can run tests to learn how brain organoids respond in different conditions. You can also learn how different genetic mutations alter brain function and contribute to autism symptoms.
Brain research could be key to understanding autism
Parents and caregivers often mention that children with autism experience distress in a variety of situations. For example, they tend to be sensitive to excessive stimulation or easily triggered by sensory overload. Shcheglovitov’s team tested brain organoids grown in dishes and found that autistic organoids responded to different stimuli than normal organoids. Comparisons of this sort reveal information about how autism develops and how it manifests itself, and prove useful in learning more about the inner workings of the brain.
The future of brain research
Scientists are using brain organoids to test new, safer and more effective drug treatments for many diseases. Researchers are even starting to grow personalized organoids from patients’ own cells. This could one day help doctors find the best treatment for an individual before prescribing medication.
These organoids are having a major impact on brain research. “This is an important step forward in our ability to model brain development in health and disease,” says Shcheglovitov. His lab and other researchers will be able to test the brain in ways it couldn’t before, giving us hope that one day we’ll be able to understand autism and other brain disorders. .
