Neurons continue to grow and change beyond the first years of development and well into adulthood, according to a new study.
The finding challenges the traditional belief that adult brain cells, or neurons, are largely static and unable to change their structures in response to new experiences.
The study, performed in adult mice, found that the branch-like projections on some neurons, called "dendrites," were still subject to change. Dendrites conduct electrical signals received from other neurons to cell body. The changes involved both growth and shrinkage.
However, your brain undergoes many negative Your risk of developing Alzheimer’s increases with age, reaching 50 percent by age 85. Researchers aren’t sure why the risk jumps so dramatically as we get older, but it’s possible the disease is linked to inflammation, a natural part of aging that can lead to a build-up of deposits in areas like the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for forming new memories. These deposits may also interfere with long-term memory. Along with aging, many experts think that genes and lifestyle contribute to the majority of Alzheimer’s and dementia cases.
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