Content
Nerve cells do not regenerate: is this really true?
29.04.2024 16:23
Agree, the opinion that nerve cells do not regenerate is widespread - perhaps you yourself are a supporter of this point of view.
Diana Salikhova, head of the laboratory of cellular biotechnology at the Research Institute of Molecular and Cellular Medicine of the RUDN Medical Institute, explained whether this is really the case.
What was before
Until a certain time, doctors could not record the functional restoration of the brain, but today it is known that the regeneration of nervous tissue is possible due to neurogenesis and brain plasticity.
What made scientists change their minds
The scientists' conclusions have changed after the discovery of neural stem cells (NSCs) in the brains of adult mammals. These are immature cells capable of self-renewal and division.
They were discovered in 1965. It was then established that NSCs can move to damaged areas of the brain and replace dead neurons. The process of formation of these cells is called postnatal neurogenesis. Thanks to this mechanism, nerve cells are able to recover.
Brain plasticity
As for the other mechanism, that is, neuronal plasticity, it allows for the restoration of nerve cells by changing the number and length of neuronal processes.
This process can be caused by injuries, learning new skills, gaining knowledge, environmental influences, or psychological stress.
Earlier we talked about how to identify an unhappy person .
