Evidence for Enduring Neurogenesis in Adult Brains
The question of whether neurons are continuously generated in the
brain over the course of adulthood has long been a topic of
controversy. Part of the difficulty in elucidating the state of
neurogenesis in the adult brain is attributed to the lack of
well-preserved brain tissue and consistency in scientific protocols,
such as tissue preparation and histological techniques, across
different research groups. Nevertheless, determining the state of
neurogenesis in the adult hippocampus is a critical endeavor because
of the great potential it holds for the study and treatment of
pathological neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s disease
(AD).
In a recent study, Moreno-Jimenez et al. demonstrate that
hippocampal neurogenesis does indeed occur over the course of adult
life. By meticulous preparation of harvested brain tissue, as well
as rigorous refinement and standardization of tissue processing
techniques, the research group developed a robust protocol to
visualize hippocampal neurons. Using this method, they identified
thousands of neurons expressing doublecortin (DCX), a protein found
in immature neurons and neuronal precursor cells, in the dentate
gyrus of brains from healthy adults spanning 43 to 87 years of age.
Furthermore, the researchers used an array of biomarkers to
determine the different maturation stages of neurons. For example,
they found that DCX+ cells positive for calretinin
(CR+) were more indicative of more immature neurons,
while DCX+ cells positive for calbindin (CB+)
cells were characteristic of a more mature neuronal phenotype.
Importantly, the researchers found that in the brains of AD
patients, the number of hippocampal DCX+ cells declined
the more advanced the stage of the disease, regardless of age. They
also determined that this reduction of neurogenesis in AD patients
could be detected in the very early stages of the disease.
This research work showcases the enduring dynamism and plasticity of
the adult brain well into advanced age, and hints at the novel
mechanisms underlying the processes of adult hippocampal
neurogenesis. The methods developed in this study will likely equip
scientists with techniques that will enable fruitful research into
treatments aimed at increasing neurogenesis in AD patients.
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The question of whether neurons are continuously generated in the
brain over the course of adulthood has long been a topic of
controversy. Part of the difficulty in elucidating the state of
neurogenesis in the adult brain is attributed to the lack of
well-preserved brain tissue and consistency in scientific protocols,
such as tissue preparation and histological techniques, across
different research groups. Nevertheless, determining the state of
neurogenesis in the adult hippocampus is a critical endeavor because
of the great potential it holds for the study and treatment of
pathological neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s disease
(AD).
