Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 12, 2026
09:24
Immunohistochemistry and Multiple Labeling with Antibodies from the Same Host Species to Study Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis
Published on: April 22, 2015
27.2K
Human Hippocampal Neurogenesis Persists throughout Aging.
Maura Boldrini1, Camille A Fulmore2, Alexandria N Tartt2
1Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; Division of Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology, NYS Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Cell Stem Cell
|April 7, 2018
Summary
Healthy aging preserves adult hippocampal neurogenesis in humans, contrary to expectations. While neuroplasticity and angiogenesis decrease, the dentate gyrus volume and neuron numbers remain stable, suggesting sustained cognitive function.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Aging Research
- Human Anatomy
Background:
- Adult hippocampal neurogenesis is known to decline with age in many species.
- Human aging is hypothesized to involve reduced neurogenesis and angiogenesis, impacting the dentate gyrus (DG).
- Concurrent changes in these hippocampal parameters during human aging are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate age-related changes in adult neurogenesis, neuroplasticity, angiogenesis, and hippocampal volume in healthy humans.
- To determine if neurogenesis is preserved in the aging human hippocampus.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of autopsy-derived hippocampi from healthy individuals aged 14 to 79.
- Quantification of neural progenitors, immature neurons, glia, and mature granule neurons.
- Assessment of dentate gyrus (DG) volume, angiogenesis, and progenitor pool status.
Main Results:
- No significant age-related differences were found in the number of intermediate neural progenitors, immature neurons, glia, mature granule neurons, or DG volume.
- Older individuals showed reduced angiogenesis and neuroplasticity, particularly in the anterior-mid DG.
- A smaller quiescent progenitor pool was observed in the anterior-mid DG of older subjects, with no changes in the posterior DG.
Conclusions:
- Healthy aging in humans is associated with preserved hippocampal neurogenesis, including the number of immature neurons and overall DG volume.
- Despite preserved neurogenesis, declines in angiogenesis and neuroplasticity occur with age, localized to specific DG regions.
- Sustained neurogenesis may support lifelong cognitive function, while age-related declines in plasticity could impact cognitive-emotional resilience.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Aging
801
Aging is a complex biological phenomenon influenced by various processes that affect cellular and systemic functions. Several prominent theories attempt to explain its mechanisms, highlighting cellular limitations, oxidative damage, and hormonal changes as central factors in aging.
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...
Cellular Clock Theory
The cellular clock theory posits that the human lifespan is closely tied to the finite capacity of cells to divide, a phenomenon governed by telomeres, which are protective caps at the ends of...
801
01:15Neurogenesis and Regeneration of Nervous Tissue
1.8K
In the CNS, neurogenesis, the birth of new neurons from stem cells, is limited to the hippocampus in adults. In other regions of the brain and spinal cord, neurogenesis is almost non-existent due to inhibitory influences from neuroglia, especially oligodendrocytes, and the absence of growth-stimulating cues. The myelin produced by oligodendrocytes in the CNS inhibits neuronal regeneration. Furthermore, astrocytes proliferate rapidly after neuronal damage, forming scar tissue that physically...
1.8K
01:19The Effect of Aging on Tissues
3.6K
Several body functions deteriorate with age. The external signs of aging are easily identifiable. For example, the skin becomes dry, less elastic, and thins out, forming wrinkles. The skin of the face begins to appear looser due to a decrease in the levels of elastic and collagen fibers in the connective tissue. Additionally, melanin production in the hair follicle decreases with age, resulting in gray hair. Moreover, the senses of sight and hearing decline, so glasses and hearing aids may...
3.6K
01:09Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age
3.6K
The upper and lower limb initially develops as a small bulge called a limb bud, which appears on the lateral side of the early embryo. The upper limb bud appears near the end of the fourth week of development, with the lower limb bud appearing shortly after.
Initially, the limb buds consist of a core of mesenchyme covered by a layer of ectoderm. The ectoderm at the end of the limb bud thickens to form a narrow crest called the apical ectodermal ridge. This ridge stimulates the underlying...
Initially, the limb buds consist of a core of mesenchyme covered by a layer of ectoderm. The ectoderm at the end of the limb bud thickens to form a narrow crest called the apical ectodermal ridge. This ridge stimulates the underlying...
3.6K
01:27Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age
241
Age-related pharmacokinetic changes are extensively documented, but understanding age-related pharmacodynamic alterations is relatively limited. This knowledge gap can be partly attributed to the complexity of developing appropriate measures of drug responses compared to bioanalytical methods for determining drug concentrations.Most information regarding age-related differences in human pharmacodynamics originates from cross-sectional studies. However, these studies assume that observed mean...
241
01:22Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Absorption
713
As individuals age, their body's physiology evolves, affecting drug pharmacokinetics. The most apparent changes occur in the gastrointestinal tract, where an increase in gastric pH, a delay in gastric emptying, and a reduction in gastrointestinal motility are observed. Remarkably, these changes do not substantially modify the absorption of orally administered drugs, particularly those absorbed via passive diffusion.Transdermal drug delivery emerges as a highly viable method for older adults due...
713