Hippocampal Neurogenesis in Aging

In at least some portions of the brain, new neurons are created throughout life in a process called neurogenesis. This is vital to memory and learning, but declines with age. Faltering neurogenesis is arguably implicated in the development of some neurodegenerative conditions. As most of the evidence for neurogenesis in adult individuals has been established in mice, and in recent years there has been some debate over whether or not these same processes do in fact operate in humans. So far, the most recent evidence leans towards supporting the existence of human adult neurogenesis. Given this, the research community remains interested in developing means of increasing the pace of neurogenesis as a basis for therapies to enhance cognitive function in the old, but progress towards this goal remains slow. Adult hippocampal neurogenesis has been proposed to be a key element in ensuring and maintaining functional hippocampal integrity in old age. Neurodegenerative diseases due to the age-dependent rapid and continuous loss of neurons (such as Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease) have been suggested to reflect the contraposition of the neurogenic process such that under homoeostatic conditions a fine balance between neurodegeneration and neuroregeneration exists, and under pathological conditions, the balance is disturbed and a disease manifests. Even though little evidence has accumulated in support of this theory, if it proves correct, it in combination with fin...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs