A 2026 perspective on neural stem cells and glial plasticity

Neural stem cells (NSCs) span a continuum of cellular states that share fundamental properties with their differentiated glial progeny. Recent single-cell studies have refined our understanding of the diversity within both NSC and glial populations, revealing a highly dynamic and interconnected landscape of cell identities. In this review, we examine the glial nature of NSCs, emphasizing their heterogeneity and the stem- and progenitor-like properties shared with the differentiated glia. We focus particularly on astrocytes and integrate evidence from invertebrate models demonstrating that glial cells possess an intrinsic capacity for neurogenesis. Together, these findings highlight areas of convergence between astrocyte plasticity and NSC-associated properties, with important implications for nervous system regeneration and brain cancer.