Dormant Neural Precursor Cells May Awaken Over Adult Life to Maintain the Brain

Neural stem cells residing within a few regions of the mammalian brain divide to generate new daughter neurons throughout adult life, the process of neurogenesis. Neurogenesis is particularly associated with functions such as memory, which requires changes in brain state driven by the creation of new neurons and neural connections. Additionally, however, researchers have identified a population of dormant progenitor cells that can mature into neurons, more broadly distributed throughout the brain. This population can be diminished and eventually exhausted by that activity, but researchers hypothesize that it could nonetheless be a source of regenerative capacity for the aging brain if the remaining pool of dormant progenitor cells could be awakened. More speculatively, this type of progenitor cell might be a good candidate for cell therapies aimed at improving function in the aging brain. If the mechanism of awakening is understood and production of the cell type possible, continual rounds of therapy might be undertakn. Still, such efforts to restore the brain are future concerns: it remains quite challenging to deliver any therapy to the brain, never mind very challenging forms of therapy such as those involving the production and quality control of cells. The awakening of dormant neuronal precursors in the adult and aged brain The mammalian brain is traditionally described as a network of neurons and glia, in which maturation and establishment of conn...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Medicine, Biotech, Research Source Type: blogs