Scientists have revealed that humans continue to produce new neurons in a part of the brain, contradicting previous theories that cells do not regenerate after adolescence, and these findings can help develop treatments for neurological conditions such as dementia.
According to the news published by the British "Guardian", many new neurons are produced in the hippocampus in infants, but it was a big debate about whether this continues to adulthood, and if so, does this rate decrease with Age progression is evident in major mice and animals without humanity.
Although some research has found new neurons in the hippocampus in the elderly, a recent study has suppressed the idea, claiming that the new neurons that were in the hippocampus were at undetectable levels in late adolescents.
And another group of scientists published research that supports again the above, and reveals that new neurons are produced in this region of the brain in adult humans, and do not retreat with age.
The researchers say these findings could help find ways to treat conditions ranging from Alzheimer's disease to psychological problems.
"The exciting part is that neurons exist throughout the life span, and people, in fact, differ from mice in terms of [neuron production] that decreases with age rapidly in mice," said Maura Poldrini of the University of American Columbia and the author of the study. This may mean that we need these neurons for complex learning capabilities and cognitive-behavioral responses to emotions. "
Boulderney and her team studied the hippocampus part of the brain in 28 men and women between the ages of 14 and 79, and their data was collected hours after their death and noticed that all individuals were in good health before death, unlike many previous studies.
Using a number of techniques, the team examined the degree of formation of new blood vessels, the size, and the number of cells at different stages of maturity, in an area known as the serrated gyrus, the hippocampus region, where new neurons are produced.
"Polderini" indicated that, according to the studies of mice, there is a group of cells, which are stem cells with multiple capabilities, which usually do not do anything, they are quiet, but they can undergo division.
She added: "Some studies indicate that we may have been born with a limited group of these" mother cells ", and these divided cells are those that divide several times and make more cells and grow into a neuron."
The team found that the levels of these "parent cells" decreased with age in the anterior and intermediate area of the tooth gyrus, however the levels of the cells they studied did not decrease, as the team found thousands of immature new neurons in the tooth gyrus at the time of death regardless of Age.
"We can still make enough neurons, even with fewer of those parent cells," Boldrini said.
However, there was a decrease in the anterior portion of serrated gyrus in the number of cells producing substances related to neuroplasticity, the ability to change the brain or "conductivity".
"Although we created these new neurons, they may be less than plastic in conduction capacity, or there may be fewer connections or their ability to transfer less," Bouldrini added.
The researchers note that low plasticity may help explain why healthy people can become more vulnerable to emotion as they age, but the formation of new cells, including neurons, may help prevent cognitive or emotional decline.
"It is now important to look at what is happening in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease and emotional problems, since if there are differences in the formation of new cells in the hippocampus, it can offer scientists new ways of treatment," Boldrini concluded.
Dr. Mercedes Paredes, from the University of California, San Francisco, said she was not convinced of the new study, and she wrote a paper last month indicating that adults are unable to form new neurons.
She said: "Currently, we do not believe that this new study challenges our findings from our newly published observations, and if neuron cells continue to grow in the human hippocampus for adults, it is a very rare phenomenon."
She added: "The matter boils down to explaining the mysterious cells that we have done many studies to try to describe on a large scale, and studies have shown that they are not new neurons as it appears for the first time."
In turn, Dr. "Niels Hahn" from Cardiff University expressed his conviction that new neurons are forming in the adult human brain, although their function is not yet clear.
He said: "We know from working in animal models that neurons generated from adults are required for different learning and memory processes, and there is some evidence that indicates that neurons are disrupted according to the psychological conditions of humans, and this is a promising study of possible treatments."
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