It’s true! Adults can grow new brain cells |
You may perhaps show an inhibition to adapt to change or grow, but your brain doesn’t. In fact, an adult human brain continues to grow new neurons, even as they age. Yes, that’s right. A new study has found compelling evidence that neurons in the brain’s memory centre, the hippocampus, continue to form well into late adulthood.A study led by researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden has found answers to the long-debated and fundamental question about the brain’s adaptability. The findings of the study are published in the journal Science. Neurons continue to form into late adulthood
The hippocampus is the region in the brain responsible for learning and memory. It is also in charge of emotional regulation. In 2013, a group of researchers at the Karolinska Institute showed that new neurons can form in the hippocampus of adults. In order to confirm it, they measured the carbon-14 levels in DNA from brain tissue. However, it was still debated, due to the lack of clear evidence that the cells that precede new neurons, known as neural progenitor cells, actually exist and divide in adult humans.“We have now been able to identify these cells of origin, which confirms that there is an ongoing formation of neurons in the hippocampus of the adult brain,” Jonas Frisén, Professor of Stem Cell Research at the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, who led the research, said. The study
The new study, however, sought the help of advanced methods to examine brain tissue from people aged 0 to 78 years from several international biobanks. Using single-nucleus RNA sequencing, they studied the cell properties. They combined it with machine learning and identified different stages of neuronal development. They also used RNAscope and Xenium to further understand the process. What they found was striking. These methods confirmed that the newly formed cells were located in a specific area of the hippocampus called the dentate gyrus. This area is important for memory formation, learning, and cognitive flexibility.How is this study significant?
The findings of this study is a hope for new treatments. The results suggest that the progenitors of adult neurons are similar to those of mice, pigs, and monkeys. However, there are some differences in which genes are active. There were also large variations between individuals – some adult humans had many neural progenitor cells, others hardly any at all.“This gives us an important piece of the puzzle in understanding how the human brain works and changes during life. Our research may also have implications for the development of regenerative treatments that stimulate neurogenesis in neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders,” Jonas Frisén explained.
