Brains that Keep Growing: How New Cells Help Memory Stay Sharp

New brain cells are still being made in people as they age, and those who keep producing them seem to remember better. Scientists studied brain tissue from people ranging from young adults to those over 80 who still have great memory. They counted cells that are in the early stages of becoming neurons, a process called neurogenesis. The healthy brains produced enough new cells that they made up about 0. 01 % of the total neurons in the memory‑centered hippocampus. In contrast, brains showing signs of decline, such as Alzheimer’s, had noticeably fewer young cells. An intriguing find was that a small group of “super agers” had even more immature neurons than the other groups, though the sample size was limited.Because each group had fewer than ten people, researchers cautioned that more data is needed to confirm the pattern. If scientists can learn what keeps neurons sprouting, they might create treatments that boost cell growth in people whose brains are aging poorly. The idea that adult brains can grow new neurons has been debated for over a century. Early scientists believed neuron production stopped after birth, but later work proved that it can continue into old age. This new evidence adds weight to the modern view that lifelong neurogenesis is possible, especially for those who maintain good cognition.