adult hippocampal neurogenesis study

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

Graphic showing new neurons forming within the dentate gyrus of the human hippocampus across different ages, up to 78 years. Credit: Public Domain

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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