Your brain, far from being fixed in adulthood, continues to renew itself. Researchers reveal that the birth of new neurons in adults plays a key role in learning. This discovery revolutionizes our understanding of human cognitive mechanisms.
The brain, the conductor of our body, is based on a network of neurons largely acquired at birth. However, certain regions continue to produce neurons All throughout life. This process, although rare and limited, is called neurogenesis.
For a long time, scientists have debated how important this adult neurogenesis really is. Previous studies have found a reduction in new neurons in patients with diseases such as Alzheimer’s or epilepsy. This phenomenon was correlated with cognitive disorders, but without precisely determining the cause. Recently, researchers at the University of Southern California explored this mystery by studying patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. These patients, who undergo surgical procedures, provide a unique opportunity to collect and analyze human brain tissue.
The results are eloquent: new neurons in adults seem directly associated with verbal learning. These cells seem to make it easier to listen, understand and retain information shared in conversations. An essential function which, paradoxically, differs from the results observed in mice where neurogenesis mainly promotesorientation spatial.
To reach these conclusions, the researchers analyzed specific markers in the patients’ brain tissue. They found that fewer new neurons in the hippocampus were accompanied by a marked decline in verbal learning and memory abilities.
This discovery opens the way to new hopes. Researchers believe that stimulating neurogenesis could improve cognitive abilities in older people or people with neurological disorders. Furthermore, physical exercise could notably have significant impacts on the production of new neurons in epileptic patients.
However, these approaches remain experimental. The researchers emphasize the need for further study of neurogenesis directly in humans, which may differ from animal models. Ultimately, this work could transform our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases and the mechanisms of aging. Brain renewal, even limited, could well become a pillar of health cognitive.
What is adult neurogenesis?
Adult neurogenesis refers to the process of formation of new neurons in the brain after birth, including during adulthood. Contrary to popular belief, the adult brain is not fixed, but remains capable of producing nerve cells, although in a limited manner.
This phenomenon occurs mainly in two regions: the hippocampus, involved in memory and learning, and the olfactory bulb, responsible for smell. These areas are home to stem cells capable of transforming into functional neurons.
Adult neurogenesis plays a key role in certain cognitive functions such as learning, verbal memory and spatial navigation. Her activity tends to decrease with age or in cases of neurological diseases.
Recent studies suggest that stimulating neurogenesis, through physical exercise or therapeutic approaches, could potentially slow cognitive decline linked to aging or diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
