07/08/2025
One of neuroscience’s most hotly debated questions has just been answered and the news couldn’t be more hopeful. Researchers at Sweden’s Karolinska Institutet have confirmed that the adult human brain continues to grow new neurons, even into old age. Using advanced tools like single-nucleus RNA sequencing and high-resolution imaging, they studied brain tissue from people aged 0 to 78 and discovered active neurogenesis in the hippocampus, the brain’s key center for memory and learning.
The process was especially strong in a region called the dentate gyrus, where neural progenitor cells essentially newborn brain cells were observed dividing and maturing. While the level of cell production varied among individuals, the takeaway was clear: the aging brain isn’t static. It remains dynamic, regenerative, and capable of healing itself in ways we’re only beginning to understand.
This discovery could reshape treatments for cognitive decline, depression, and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. By learning how to activate or enhance this natural brain cell renewal, scientists are opening doors to future therapies that could preserve memory, sharpen thinking, and boost mental health throughout life.
Source: Karolinska Institutet, 2025 | Published in Nature Neuroscience