Humans Produce New Brain Cells Throughout Their Lives, Say Researchers (theguardian.com)

An anonymous reader shares a report: Humans continue to produce new neurons in a part of their brain involved in learning, memory and emotion throughout adulthood, scientists have revealed, countering previous theories that production stopped after adolescence. The findings could help in developing treatments for neurological conditions such as dementia. Many new neurons are produced in the hippocampus in babies, but it has been a matter of hot debate whether this continues into adulthood -- and if so, whether this rate drops with age as seen in mice and nonhuman primates. Although some research had found new neurons in the hippocampus of older humans, a recent study scotched the idea, claiming that new neurons in the hippocampus were at undetectable levels by our late teens.

Comments

NON-contradicting last month's study

[epine]

It doesn't actually contradict last month's study.

This study demonstrates a lingering neuro-generative capacity (at the tissue level). The previous study demonstrates a paucity of neuro-generative reality (with a bias toward the functional view).

Most old dogs are set in their ways, but some old dogs do indeed learn new tricks.

Oh noes, CONTRADICTION, time to ostrich my head into the nearest dune.