Standardized Operational Protocol of Human Brain Banking for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Abstract

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease for which there is currently no reliable treatment. Existing clinical diagnostic methods include neurophysiological examination, neuroimaging, and genetic testing, etc. In contrast, there is a relative insufficiency of data in neuropathology research, and the pathogenesis is still poorly understood. The neuropathological evaluation results obtained from autopsies of ALS patients and various organ and tissue samples are crucial resources for the study of this disease. The ALS Human Brain Bank is urgently needed for the basic and clinical research on this disease. However, currently there is no standardized protocol for such an ALS Brain Bank. Based on the "Standardized Operational Protocol for the Human Brain Banking in China", this Standardized Operational Protocol is drafted to provide a guideline for the construction and operation of ALS Brain Bank to ensure the quality and homogeneity in China and worldwide. This article focused on the collection of anti-mortem information, donation process, the harvesting, preservation and pathological evaluation of the brain, spinal cord, and other organ/tissue samples of ALS donors in the human brain bank. The establishment of ALS Brain Banks may foster the relevant research works and pave the way for the treatment of this disease.