Adults are capable of generating new brain cells, according to a recent study that could potentially put an end to a long-standing debate in neuroscience.
In a groundbreaking study published in the journal Science on July 3, 2023, researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm have provided compelling evidence that adult human brains can generate new neurons, a process known as adult neurogenesis. This discovery, especially in the hippocampus—a brain region critical for learning, memory, and emotion regulation—has significant implications for the clinical neuroscience community.
Led by Dr. Marta Paterlini, the team used advanced techniques such as single-nucleus RNA sequencing, machine learning, and cutting-edge imaging methods to identify neural progenitor cells and immature neurons in the hippocampus of adults ranging from 13 to 78 years old. These progenitor cells are the precursors that divide and give rise to new neurons.
The researchers found evidence of ongoing neurogenesis in nine out of 14 adult brains analyzed with one technique, and in all ten adult brains analyzed with a second technique. Although there is individual variation—some adults showed more progenitors than others—the presence of these cells upholds the concept of ongoing formation of new neurons well into late adulthood.
The hippocampus, often referred to as the brain’s memory center, plays an essential role in learning and memory consolidation. New neurons produced in the hippocampus, specifically in the dentate gyrus, are believed to contribute to memory formation, cognitive flexibility, and the brain’s plasticity to adapt to new information. Adult neurogenesis is therefore considered a mechanism that facilitates learning and memory by continually renewing and reorganizing neural circuits.
Since Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases involve memory loss and cognitive decline related to hippocampal dysfunction, understanding how neurogenesis works in adults might open avenues for therapeutic interventions. The identification of ongoing neurogenesis suggests potential regenerative therapies could target these progenitor cells to counteract cognitive impairments and psychiatric disorders. However, much research is still needed to understand how neurogenesis is affected in Alzheimer’s disease and whether boosting it could slow or reverse symptoms.
Dr. Rajiv Ratan, CEO of the Burke Neurological Institute at Weill Cornell Medicine, praised the study as a great example of science that could potentially have significant implications for the clinical neuroscience community. Dr. W. Taylor Kimberly, chief of neurocritical care at Massachusetts General Brigham, suggested exploring whether the adults who produced new brain cells did so in response to a neurological disease.
Dr. Kimberly also envisioned comparing patients who have dementia to "super agers" who are cognitively resilient in old age to uncover the link between neurogenesis and disease. The researchers used fluorescent tags to mark the proliferating cells and built a machine learning algorithm to identify neurogenic stem cells.
This breakthrough resolves a long-standing debate and redefines our understanding of brain plasticity and its potential for intervention in cognitive diseases. The fact that adult brains can sprout new neurons transforms how we think about lifelong learning, recovery from injury, and the untapped potential of neural plasticity.
- This groundbreaking discovery in science challenges the conventional wisdom about the adult human brain's ability to generate new neurons.
- The findings in the study published in Science on July 3, 2023, have far-reaching implications for workplace-wellness and medical-conditions, particularly chronic diseases.
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- Dr. Rajiv Ratan emphasized the importance of translating this scientific breakthrough into practical applications for the clinical neuroscience community.
- Dr. W. Taylor Kimberly acknowledges the study's potential to reshape our understanding of learning and memory, and its importance for ongoing education and personal development.
