New neurons are also formed in adults

The brains of healthy adult men and women may be producing as many new brain cells as younger people, researchers believe. The findings could help develop new therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.

Previous studies have suggested that the process of neurogenesis – the formation of new neuronow – inhibits with age, eventually ceasing altogether. Scientists have argued for years whether this process occurs in adulthood, and if so, whether its intensity decreases with age.

According to the study presented by scientistsoin the US, ktore appeared in the journal „Cell Stem Cell”, In older individualsob neurogenesis occurs to the same extent as in young.

Maura Boldrini, professor of neuroscience at Columbia University, head of theowny author of the publication, said their findings may suggest that many seniorow retains its cognitive abilities. – In our study, we found that mozgi older osob have a similar ability to create thousands of new neuronsow of the comoprogenitor cells (whichoProgenitor cells, also called comorkami precursors, that comorki descendants of the comostem rec- note. red.), as do younger people,” she admitted.

– We have found roAlso similar hippocampal volumes in osob in roling age. Nonetheless, older people had fewer new blood vessels, which may affect the ability of new neuronow to make connections – said Boldrini.

Previous studies on rodents have shown that the ability to generate new neuronow decreases with age. – People roThey differ from mice, in whichorych neuron productionow with age declines rapidly. This could mean that we need these neuronow to our complex learning abilities and cognitive behavioral responses – added the researcher.

Neurogenesis occurs primarily in the olfactory portion of theozgowia – olfactory bulb, in the striatum and in the hippocampus. Researchers believe that this process may also occur in other parts of the mozgu, however, it is not clear. During the study, the compositeoł scientistsow conducted an autopsy of 28 osob aged 14-79, whichore died suddenly. Their goal was to study the hippocampusoin these osob. The hippocampus is part of the mozgu responsible for memory, learning ability or emotions.

For the first time, scientists looked at newly formed neurons and blood vessels in the human hippocampus wkrotce after death. The researchers had previously determined that the subjects were not cognitively impaired and did not suffer from depression, which could affect the production of new cellsorek mozgowych.

Researchers from Columbia University and the New York State Psychiatric Institute found that even the oldest mozgi, ktore they studied, they produced new comorki mozgowe. „We found a similar number of neural comoprogenitor reqs and thousands of immature neuronow” – write the researchers on „Cell Stem Cell”. Nevertheless, the researchers added, mozgi osob seniors form fewer new blood vessels in their structures and have a smaller pool of comoprogenitor records.

Boldrini speculates that cognitive-emotional problems in old age may be caused by a smaller pool of neuronal comoprogenitor re, decreased vascularization and reduced connectivity between cellsorkami within the hippocampus.

Teamoł Boldrini will now want to take a look at what is happening in the mozgach osob suffering from emotional and Alzheimer’s disorders. If there are roThe differences in creating new comorek in the hippocampus, it may offer scientists new treatments.

SourceoSource: Sience Daily, The Guardian, fot. Allan Ajifo/ CC BY 2.0/Flickr