Human brain can grow new cells, remain sharp even in 80s: Study | India News

NEW DELHI: For many, old age brings small lapses in memory. A forgotten name, a misplaced key. For others, memory loss becomes something more serious. Still, some in their 80s remain as sharp as they were decades ago.A paper published in the journal, ‘Nature’, suggests one reason for this may lie deep in the memory center of the brain – the ability to continue producing new cells even late in life. The research provides strong evidence that the adult human brain continues to generate new neurons in the hippocampus, an area crucial for learning and memory, although this process is disrupted by Alzheimer’s disease.

Using advanced single-cell genetic techniques, the researchers analyzed around 3,56,000 cells from postmortem hippocampus samples across ages – from young adults to healthy elderly individuals, early Alzheimer’s cases, diagnosed patients and ‘superagers’ – identifying neural stem cells and clearing the nervous system of immature cells. NeuronAge alone did not stop this process. Healthy older adults still show neuron formation. But in Alzheimer’s, there were significantly fewer immature neurons. Stem cells remain, yet their development into functional neurons is inhibited.Dr Manjari Tripathi, head of the department of neurology at AIIMS, said this reflects neuronal plasticity – the brain’s ability to adapt and renew itself even at a young age. According to him, it can be strengthened through exercise, balanced diet, adequate sleep, stress reduction, strong social network and control of cardiovascular risk. Sleep, in particular, is crucial for memory consolidation and neuronal sprouting. He notes that many ‘superagers’ are mentally active and socially engaged.Researchers have identified early molecular changes in people with Alzheimer’s-related pathology but no symptoms, suggesting that disruption of renewal may begin years before memory loss occurs.Neurogenesis in adults occurs at a slower rate than in childhood but is functionally important, says Dr. Sudhir Kumar, neurologist at Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad. New neurons are adaptive and help differentiate similar memories. He added that if this regenerative capacity declines early in Alzheimer’s, future diagnostics could detect it before symptoms appear. He suggested that treatment should focus not only on clearing toxic proteins such as amyloid but also on strengthening the brain’s repair system through targeted therapies and lifestyle measures.