Dynamics of Hippocampal Neurogenesis in Adult Humans

Adult-born hippocampal neurons are important for cognitive plasticity in rodents. There is evidence for hippocampal neurogenesis in adult humans, although whether its extent is sufficient to have func- tional significance has been questioned. We have assessed the generation of hippocampal cells in humans by measuring the concentration of nuclear- bomb-test-derived 14C in genomic DNA, and we present an integrated model of the cell turnover dy- namics. We found that a large subpopulation of hip- pocampal neurons constituting one-third of the neu- rons is subject to exchange. In adult humans, 700 new neurons are added in each hippocampus per day, corresponding to an annual turnover of 1.75% of the neurons within the renewing fraction, with a modest decline during aging. We conclude that neu- rons are generated throughout adulthood and that the rates are comparable in middle-aged humans and mice, suggesting that adult hippocampal neuro- genesis may contribute to human brain function.<p>De två (2) första författarna delar förstaförfattarskapet.</p>Linn