The Good Men Project Become a Premium Member We have pioneered the largest worldwide conversation about what it means to be a good man in the 21st century. Your support of our work is inspiring and invaluable. Can Restarting Aging Stem Cells Fight Memory Decline? Researchers have discovered a mechanism linked to stem cell aging as well as how to reactivate the production of neurons.
By U. Zurich As people get older, their neural stem cells lose the ability to proliferate and produce new neurons, leading to a decline in memory function. The stem cells in our brain generate new neurons throughout life, for example in the hippocampus. This region of the brain plays a key role for a range of memory processes. With increasing age, and in patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, the hippocampus’ ability to create new neurons declines steadily—and with it, its memory functions.