adult hippocampal neurogenesis study

Human Brains Keep Growing New Neurons to Age 78, Karolinska Study Finds

Groundbreaking Study from Karolinska Institutet

A study from Sweden's Karolinska Institutet, published in Science, reveals that neuron formation in the hippocamus persists into late adulthood-offering critical insight into the enduring adaptability of the human brain.

Historical Insight into Neurogenesis Research

The Role of the Hippocampus in Brain Function

the hippocampus, a region of the brain central to learning, memory and emotional regulation, has long intrigued scientists.

The 2013 Landmark Study

In 2013, Jonas Frisén's group at Karolinska Institutet published a landmark study demonstrating that new neurons can form in the adult human hippocampus. They achieved this by measuring carbon-14 levels in DNA extracted from brain tissue, allowing them to estimate the age of the cells.

Determining the Cells of Origin

Nevertheless, the degree and importance of adult neurogenesis remain subjects of scientific debate. Conclusive evidence has yet to confirm whether neural progenitor cells-the precursors to new neurons-exist and divide in adult humans.

"We have now succeeded in identifying the cells of origin, confirming that neuron formation continues in the adult hippocampus," says Professor Jonas Frisén, who led the study at Karolinska Institutet's Department of Cell and Molecular Biology.

From Birth Through to the Age of 78

In their latest investigation, the team harnessed an array of advanced techniques to study brain tissue from donors aged between birth and 78, collected from international biobanks.

Techniques and Tools Used

Using single-nucleus RNA sequencing to profile gene activity within individual nuclei, alongside flow cytometry to assess cellular characteristics, they then applied machine-learning tools to chart every stage of neuronal development-from stem cells to dividing immature neurons.

Spatial Gene Mapping with RNAscope and Xenium

To pinpoint the cell's whereabouts, the researchers employed RNAscope and Xenium-two techniques that reveal spatial patterns of gene activity. Both confirmed that the newly generated cells reside within the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, a region crucial for memory formation, learning and cognitive flexibility.

Prospects for Novel Therapies

Results indicate that the precursors to adult neurons in human are broadly comparable to those in mice, pigs and monkeys, albeit with some variation in gene expression. Additionally, individual differences were marked: some adults possessed numerous progenitor cells, others scarcely any.

"This provides a vital piece of the puzzle in understanding the working of the human brain and how it changes over a lifetime," explains Frisén. "Our findings may also inform the development of regenerative therapies aimed at promoting neurogenesis in psychiatric and neurodegenerative conditions."

Collaborative Effort and Institutional Involvement

The study was carried out in close collaboration with Ionut Dumitru, Marta Paterlini and fellow researchers at Karolinska Institutet, alongside colleagues from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden.

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brain organoid platform mild blast TBI research

Brain Organoid Platform Aims to Decode Mild Blast Traumatic Brain Injury in Military personnel

Traumatic Brain Injury: A Persistent Challenge for Military personnel

Traumatic brain injuries have remained a persistent issue among military personnel, with the Department of Defence reporting close to 516.000 cases globally between 2000 and 2024.

Johns Hopkins Launches POSITRONIC to Study mbTBI

A research team from Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, together with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, is developing a next-generation brain-organoid platform to tackle this challenge. Their study—Platform to Optimally Study Injury and TRauma On Neural Integrity and Circuitry (POSITRONIC), published in Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology—outlines the core principles of platforms designed for investigating low-level blast exposure.

Understanding Low-Level Blast Exposure

"The cumulative impact of low-level blast exposure remains poorly understood, largely due to our limited capacity to detect subtle effects on the human body—effects that may appear immediately but unfold gradually over time," said Katy Carneal, Assistant Programme Manager for Biological and Chemical Sciences at APL.

The Hidden Risk of Repeated Exposure

Low-level blasts produce pressure waves that travel through the skull and interact with brain tissue: repeated exposure can result in mild blast-induced traumatic brain injury (mbTBI). Military and low enforcement personnel may be exposed to over 100 such blasts during certain training exercises—and considerably more over the course of their careers.

Developing the POSITRONIC Prototype Platform

"Our aim is to create a prototype platform that will enable a deeper understanding of mbTBI caused by repeated low-level blasts, using advances in brain organoid technology and non-invasive optical imaging," said Eyal Bar-Kochba, Chief Scientist at APL's Research and Exploratory Development Department (REDD) and lead investigator for POSITRONIC. "We hope this work will contribute to the development of preventative strategies, as well as improved diagnostic and treatment approaches."

Future-Ready Technologies to Study Brain Trauma

Limitations of Traditional TBI Models

Researchers have traditionally employed in vivo models—studies conducted on live animals—and in vitro models, involving cultured cells in laboratory settings, to investigate traumatic brain injuries. Yet, applying these findings to human cases has proved difficult due to the limited relevance of such models to human biology.

Brain Organoids: A Transformative in Vitro Tool

Enter brain organoids—an emerging in vitro model based on human cells. One of their chief advantages lies in their capacity to replicate complex neural networks and cellular dynamics.

Johns Hopkins Team Leads the Charge

Neurotoxicologists Thomas Hartung and Lena Smirnova, of the Bloomberg School, were  instrumental in advancing organoid platforms for trauma research. The POSITRONIC team is leading efforts to apply these brain organoids in studying repeated low-level blast exposures.

Simulating Blasts with Precision

"This highlights the flexibility of organoids as a viable alternative to animal models, offering a platform for exploring yet another complex condition," said Smirnova, Assistant Professor at the Bloomberg School.

Cultivating and Testing Brain Organoids Under Blast Pressure

Once cultivated, the brain organoids is linked to a pressure-generation system that allows researchers to simulate repeated low-level blast exposure, mirroring the pressure commonly encountered by service personnel during training exercises.

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Discover how cutting-edge brain organoid research is transforming military traumatic brain injury studies! Dive deeper into health and science breakthroughs today.

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