Human brains keep growing neurons even in old age, study finds for first time

Neural progenitor cells keep dividing in the adult brain, offering new hope for memory, learning, and repair.

Originally published by Neetika Walter, Updated: Jul 03, 2025 06:46 PM EST

Representational image of brain neurons. iStock Photos

For decades, scientists believed the human brain stopped producing new neurons after childhood.

This long-held view painted the adult brain as a fixed organ, incapable of generating fresh cells in the very region responsible for memory and learning.

But a landmark new study turns that dogma on its head, offering the clearest evidence yet that adult humans continue to form new neurons well into the old age.

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