Cited by 1,841Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanismsMemory and Neural MechanismsNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research

Dynamics of hippocampal neurogenesis in adult humans

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Spalding, Kirsty L., Bergmann, Olaf, Alkass, Kanar, Bernard, Samuel, Salehpour, Mehran, Huttner, Hagen B., Boström, Emil, Westerlund, Isabelle +6 more·2013·Cell

Abstract

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 functional 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 dynamics. We found that a large subpopulation of hippocampal neurons constituting one-third of the neurons 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 neurons are generated throughout adulthood and that the rates are comparable in middle-aged humans and mice, suggesting that adult hippocampal neurogenesis may contribute to human brain function.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.cell.2013.05.002

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  • About 35% of the whole population of the dentate gyrus in humans undergoes replacement, while in the mouse this fraction is limited to only 10%.

    “Interestingly, about 35% of the whole population of the dentate gyrus in humans undergoes replacement (Spalding et al., 2013), while in the mouse this fraction is limited to only 10% (Imayoshi et al., 2008).”

    From Depression and adult neurogenesis: Positive effects of the antidepressant fluoxetine and of physical exercise (2018) · cites this paper as Spalding et al., 2013

    The Results section, “A large proportion of hippocampal neurons is subject to turnover,” estimates that 35% (CI 12%–63%) of human hippocampal neurons are in the cycling population. It says this corresponds to the vast majority of dentate gyrus neurons, not 35% of dentate gyrus neurons. The mouse figure is separately attributed to Imayoshi et al. in the citing sentence and is not part of this verdict. (LLM, conf=0.92)

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  • Neurogenesis in humans displays a higher turnover than in rodents.

    “neurogenesis in human displays a higher turnover than in rodents (Spalding et al., 2013;Imayoshi et al., 2008)”

    From Depression and adult neurogenesis: Positive effects of the antidepressant fluoxetine and of physical exercise (2018) · cites this paper as Spalding et al., 2013

    The Discussion reports that a much larger proportion of hippocampal neurons undergoes exchange in humans than in mice. That supports a higher proportion turning over, but not a higher turnover rate: the Abstract says rates are comparable in middle-aged humans and mice. The claim does not distinguish between those meanings of turnover. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • In humans, a post mortem study measuring 14C in genomic DNA reported a daily number of 700 new neurons with a modest decline during aging.

    “Yet, in humans a post mortem study measuring the concentration of nuclear bomb test-derived 14 C in genomic DNA reported a daily number of 700 new neurons with a modest decline during aging (Spalding et al., 2013).”
  • In the human dentate gyrus, neurogenesis takes place at a rate of about 700 neurons generated per day and the production of new neurons decreases steadily with age.

    “After a first evidence indicating that adult neurogenesis occurs also in humans in the dentate gyrus (Eriksson et al., 1998), more recent data show that in the human dentate gyrus neurogenesis takes place at a rate of about 700 neurons generated per day and that the production of new neurons decreases steadily with age (Spalding et al., 2013;Knoth et al., 2010;Mathews et al., 2017).”
  • In adult humans, new neurons continue to be generated with a modest decline during aging.

    “Most of the post-mortem studies have now evidenced that in adult humans, new neurons continued to be generated with a modest decline during aging (Eriksson et al. 1998; Reif et al. 2006; Spalding et al. 2013).”

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Authors
Spalding, K. L., Bergmann, O., Alkass, K., Bernard, S., Salehpour, M., Huttner, H. B., Boström, E., Westerlund, I., Vial, C., Buchholz, B. A., Possnert, G., Mash, D. C., Druid, H., & Frisén, J.
Affiliations
  • Karolinska Institutet (SE)
  • Lyon 1 Université (FR)
  • Uppsala University (SE)
  • Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (DE)
  • Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
  • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (US)
  • University of Miami (US)
Corresponding author
Frisén, Jonas
Venue
Cell
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2013-06
Volume
153
Issue
6
Pages
1219-1227
ISSN
0092-8674 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2136863044
Cited by
1,841
References
51
Citations by year
2026: 54 · 2025: 92 · 2024: 94 · 2023: 99 · 2022: 131 · 2021: 157 · 2020: 169 · 2019: 166 · 2018: 190 · 2017: 180 · 2016: 166 · 2015: 161 · 2014: 135 · 2013: 45
FWCI
62.78
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cell (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • KTH Publication Database DiVA (KTH Royal Institute of Technology) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • HAL (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Foundation for the National Institutes of Health
  • U.S. Department of Energy
  • National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression
  • Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
  • Karolinska Institutet
  • Knut och Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse
  • Stockholms Läns Landsting
  • Vetenskapsrådet
  • Rättsmedicinalverket
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA031429, DA031429)
  • National Institute of General Medical Sciences (P41GM103483)
  • National Center for Research Resources (P41RR013461)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Developmental Neuroscience › Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
Keywords
adult hippocampal neurogenesis, hippocampal neurons, cell turnover, cognitive plasticity, aging
MeSH terms
Adult, Aging, Animals, Hippocampus, Humans, Models, Biological, Neurons, Mice, Radiometric Dating, Neurogenesis

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