Immature neurons and cognitive resilience in ageing

Immature neurons in the hippocampus, a brain region involved in memory, can be found in people over the age of 80. This was shown in a study by the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience (NIN). In this study, an international collective of researchers analysed brain tissue from elderly donors from the Netherlands Brain Bank.  

The results suggest that the behaviour of these immature cells, rather than their prevalence, may influence how well the brain can cope with ageing and neurodegeneration. In cognitively resilient individuals, the cells appeared more resistant to inflammation and cellular stress. These new findings may help researchers better understand how the brain protects itself against cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s. 

“Around 30 percent of older adults who develop Alzheimer’s disease never experience its symptoms”, Evgenia Salta PhD, last author of the publication, quotes. “Cognitive resilience is extremely exciting. If we understand what protects these brains, it could eventually lead to new therapeutic strategies.” 

Cognitive resilience and research at the University of Amsterdam

The study involved two researchers from the Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences at the University of Amsterdam: Prof. Paul Lucassen and Dr. Carlos Fitzsimons. Their research focuses on brain plasticity and adult neurogenesis, and how these mechanisms contribute to memory, ageing and neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.