Older Adults May Grow as Many New Brain Cells as Young People

[Judi Lynn]

Older Adults May Grow as Many New Brain Cells as Young People
By Traci Pedersen

Some scientific controversy exists over whether the brains of adult humans are capable of growing new brain cells. In fact, previous research has suggested that the adult brain is hard-wired and unable to grow new neurons.

Now in a new study, published in the journal Cell Stem Cell, researchers show for the first time that healthy older men and women can generate just as many new brain cells as their younger counterparts. The findings suggest that many senior citizens may be more cognitively and emotionally intact than commonly believed.

“We found that older people have similar ability to make thousands of hippocampal new neurons from progenitor cells as younger people do,” said lead author Dr. Maura Boldrini, associate professor of neurobiology at Columbia University.

“We also found equivalent volumes of the hippocampus (a brain structure used for emotion and cognition) across ages. Nevertheless, older individuals had less vascularization and maybe less ability of new neurons to make connections.”

More:
https://psychcentral.com/news/2018/04/07/older-adults-may-grow-as-many-new-brain-cells-as-young-people/134466.html

[Loki Liesmith]

1. Lets see if other studies back this up

So far the balance of evidence is to the contrary.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Humans produce new brain cells throughout their lives, say researchers

Findings could help hunt for treatment for degenerative conditions such as Alzheimers, and psychiatric problems

Nicola Davis
@NicolaKSDavis
Thu 5 Apr 2018 12.00 EDT Last modified on Thu 5 Apr 2018 17.00 EDT

Humans continue to produce new neurons in a part of their brain involved in learning, memory and emotion throughout adulthood, scientists have revealed, countering previous theories that production stopped after adolescence. The findings could help in developing treatments for neurological conditions such as dementia.

Many new neurons are produced in the hippocampus in babies, but it has been a matter of hot debate whether this continues into adulthood – and if so, whether this rate drops with age as seen in mice and nonhuman primates.

Although some research had found new neurons in the hippocampus of older humans, a recent study scotched the idea, claiming that new neurons in the hippocampus were at undetectable levels by our late teens.

Now another group of scientists have published research that pushes back, revealing the new neurons are produced in this brain region in human adults and does not drop off with age. The findings, they say, could help in the hunt for ways to treat conditions ranging from Alzheimer’s to psychiatric problems.

More:
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/apr/05/humans-produce-new-brain-cells-throughout-their-lives-say-researchers