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Adult human brains keep creating new neurons in the hippocampus

This discovery suggests our brains stay flexible with age

03-Jul-2025

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Scientists at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have confirmed that the human brain keeps making new neurons even in adulthood. This happens in the hippocampus, a region important for memory and learning.

Earlier studies hinted at this, but clear proof was missing. The team, led by Jonas Frisén, used brain tissue from people aged 0 to 78, collected from global biobanks. They used methods like single-nucleus RNA sequencing and flow cytometry to study how cells develop and divide. They also used imaging techniques to see where these new cells appear in the brain.

They found that the cells which become neurons, called neural progenitor cells, exist and actively divide in adults. The new neurons were located in a specific area called the dentate gyrus. Interestingly, some people had many of these cells, while others had very few. This work suggests our brains stay more adaptable than we thought and may help guide new treatments for diseases like Alzheimer’s and depression.

The study was a collaboration with Chalmers University and was funded by Swedish and European research councils. It was published in Science. This discovery brings hope for using the brain’s own cells to repair damage in the future.

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Chalmers University of Technology

University located in Gothenburg, Sweden

Karolinska Institutet

Public Medical university

Science

Peer-reviewed academic online journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Topics mentioned on this page:
Mental Health, Human Biology
Adult human brains keep creating new neurons in the hippocampus