Neurogenesis in the aging brain

Review

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Authors: Veronica Galvan, Kunlin Jin

Published Date January 2007 Volume 2007:2(4) Pages 605 - 610

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/CIA.S1614

Veronica Galvan, Kunlin Jin

Buck Institute for Age Research, 8001 Redwood Blvd. Novato, CA, USA

Abstract: Neurogenesis, or the birth of new neural cells, was thought to occur only in the developing nervous system and a fixed neuronal population in the adult brain was believed to be necessary to maintain the functional stability of adult brain circuitry. However, recent studies have demonstrated that neurogenesis does indeed continue into and throughout adult life in discrete regions of the central nervous systems (CNS) of all mammals, including humans. Although neurogenesis may contribute to the ability of the adult brain to function normally and be induced in response to cerebral diseases for self-repair, this nevertheless declines with advancing age. Understanding the basic biology of neural stem cells and the molecular and cellular regulation mechanisms of neurogenesis in young and aged brain will allow us to modulate cell replacement processes in the adult brain for the maintenance of healthy brain tissues and for repair of disease states in the elderly.

Keywords: neurogenesis, aging, brain, neural stem cells, subgranular zone, subventricular zone