Human adult neurogenesis: evidence and remaining questions

The paper addresses the ongoing debate about whether new neurons are generated in the adult human hippocampus. It discusses conflicting reports, one suggesting neurogenesis declines significantly in childhood, and another claiming it persists throughout life. The authors argue that despite conflicting evidence, there's no reason to dismiss the idea that adult-generated neurons contribute to brain plasticity and cognitive functions throughout a person's life. The paper highlights technical challenges in studying human brains, such as postmortem delay and variability due to lifestyle factors, which can affect the detection of neurogenesis markers.

• 1
  Adult neurogenesis can be detected in the human hippocampus in the same location and numbers as expected based on work in rats, as indicated by the presence of BrdU-positive neurons.
• 2
  Carbon dating indicates that about 700 new neurons are added per day in each dentate gyrus, suggesting a continuous process of neurogenesis in adults.
• 3
  Species differences in the timing and markers of neurogenesis may exist, making direct translations from animal studies to humans problematic.