Key points from article :
Free radicals - generally considered harmful - control cellular processes vital for the brain's ability to adapt.
New nerve cells emerge from stem cells - even in adulthood.
"These precursor cells are an important basis for neuroplasticity - brain's ability to adapt," Prof. Kempermann, DZNE.
Neural stem cells contain a high degree of free radicals.
Increase in the concentration of the radicals makes the stem cells ready to divide in mice.
Too much of oxidative stress is known to cause nerve damage and trigger ageing processes.
"New & surprising is the fact that the stem cells in our brains not only tolerate such extremely high levels of radicals, but also use them for their function."
"Results suggest that free radicals are not fundamentally bad for the brain - they are most likely important" - Prof. Kempermann.
Research by German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) published in Cell Stem Cell.
