{"id":657,"date":"2025-07-24T18:28:39","date_gmt":"2025-07-24T15:28:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lbscience.org\/en\/2025\/07\/23\/has-the-mystery-of-the-brain-been-solved\/"},"modified":"2025-08-21T00:16:42","modified_gmt":"2025-08-20T21:16:42","slug":"has-the-mystery-of-the-brain-been-solved","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lbscience.org\/en\/2025\/07\/24\/has-the-mystery-of-the-brain-been-solved\/","title":{"rendered":"Brain Mystery Solved?"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the most fundamental and longstanding questions in neuroscience has been the focus of fierce debate for decades <\/span>\u2013 <\/span>do new neurons form in the adult human brain? The generation of new neurons in the brain, or \u201cneurogenesis,\u201d has been documented in studies, but mainly in animal models, and unequivocal proof of this phenomenon in the human brain remained controversial for years.<\/span><\/p>\n

Beyond answering a key biological question (until recently it was thought that the adult brain could not regenerate), confirming neurogenesis in the adult brain could reshape prevailing views on brain aging and enable breakthroughs in treating neurological diseases, restoring brain functions, and deepening our understanding of memory, learning, and adaptation in the human brain.<\/span><\/p>\n

Neurogenesis, documented mainly in animal models\u2014especially rodents and primates\u2014had so far been considered limited to childhood in the human brain. During this period, neural stem cells\u2014special cells with differentiation potential\u2014become progenitor cells, which can later differentiate into neurons. Progenitor cells differ from stem cells in that their differentiation capacity is more restricted; in this case, they can become only neurons.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to one view in the field, the neurons generated during childhood stay with us for life, while the populations of stem and progenitor cells disappear as we mature. Other views support the possibility that neurogenesis occurs in the adult human brain, relying on several studies that provided indirect evidence for the presence of progenitor cells in adulthood [<\/span>1<\/span><\/a>]. However, the exact size of this population is unknown, and it was not clear if these cells can actually divide into new neurons in the mature brain.<\/span><\/p>\n

Over the years, studies have supported both sides\u2014some found indications of neurogenesis in the adult brain, while others found no evidence. Until recently, no study had settled the dispute.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, a new study published in the journal Science provides strong evidence that new neurons are indeed generated in the adult human brain, specifically in the hippocampus\u2014a key region for learning and memory [<\/span>2<\/span><\/a>].<\/span><\/p>\n

The research team examined brain samples from individuals aged 0 to 78 and used several advanced techniques to demonstrate the presence of progenitor cell populations in the adult human brain.<\/span><\/p>\n

First, the team employed a technique called snRNA-seq (single-nucleus RNA sequencing). This method allows researchers to determine which genes are \u201cturned on\u201d and being transcribed into RNA (for more about RNA and how it is transcribed from genes \u2013 [3]), offering clues about the activity and role of each cell in the tissue. Technically, isolating intact human brain cells from mature tissue is very difficult, but cell nuclei\u2014the compartment containing the genetic material\u2014are more robust and remain intact after tissue dissociation, allowing rich and precise data to be extracted. In short, this technique enables researchers to isolate neuronal nuclei, sequence the RNA inside them, and identify \u2013 by each nucleus\u2019s gene-expression \u201csignature\u201d \u2013 the cell type it came from, including rare cells such as progenitors.<\/span><\/p>\n

The research group used a machine-learning algorithm to identify the progenitor population. Because these cells are known to exist at ages 0\u20135 and their gene-expression signature in young brains is already mapped, the investigators \u201ctrained\u201d the algorithm to recognize the pattern characteristic of progenitors in early life. The algorithm then scanned samples from adult brains\u2014where such cells are far rarer \u2013 and located cells with similar gene-expression profiles.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although these methods showed that progenitor cells can be detected in the brains analyzed, the critical question is whether the cells are active and functional \u2013 namely, can they divide and become neurons? To test this, the researchers used a protein marker that appears only in cells undergoing division. In this way, they identified dividing cells, including progenitors, even in adult brains, and specifically in the hippocampus.<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, using spatial transcriptomics, a technique that detects RNA directly within thin brain-tissue sections at microscopic resolution, the team mapped the cells\u2019 actual locations in the human brain. The result: progenitor cells do exist, rare yet unmistakable, concentrated in the hippocampus.<\/span><\/p>\n

By combining advanced scientific techniques \u2013 sequencing, machine learning, precise biological markers, and spatial imaging \u2013 the research group presented compelling evidence that neural progenitor cells not only persist in adult brains but are also active and concentrated in the hippocampus <\/span>\u2013<\/span> the brain\u2019s hub for memory and learning.<\/span><\/p>\n

Beyond potentially ending a long-standing debate, these findings set the stage to studying how differences in the rate of neurogenesis in the hippocampus affect processes such as cognitive decline in various diseases \u2013 a discovery that could lead to new therapeutic approaches in the future.<\/span><\/p>\n

This study may signal the end of the old argument about neurogenesis in the adult brain <\/span>\u2013<\/span> but, as always in science, only time and future research will tell.\u2003<\/span><\/p>\n

Hebrew editing: Shir Rosenblum-Man
\nEnglish editing: Elee Shimshoni<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

References<\/strong>:<\/span><\/p>\n

1)<\/span> A landmark study providing the first evidence of neurogenesis in the adult human brain<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

2)<\/span> Progenitor cells identified in the adult human brain, the study published in Science<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

3) A post in honor of RNA Day<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One of the most fundamental and longstanding questions in neuroscience has been the focus of fierce debate for decades \u2013 do new neurons form in the adult human brain? The generation of new neurons in the brain, or \u201cneurogenesis,\u201d has been documented in studies, but mainly in animal models, and unequivocal proof of this phenomenon […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":72,"featured_media":662,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-657","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-biology"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nBrain Mystery Solved? - Little, Big Science<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lbscience.org\/en\/2025\/07\/24\/has-the-mystery-of-the-brain-been-solved\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Brain Mystery Solved? - Little, Big Science\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"One of the most fundamental and longstanding questions in neuroscience has been the focus of fierce debate for decades \u2013 do new neurons form in the adult human brain? 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