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Sci. Aging Knowl. Environ., 10 December 2003
Vol. 2003, Issue 49, p. pe35
[DOI: 10.1126/sageke.2003.49.pe35]

PERSPECTIVES

Can New Neurons Replace Memories Lost?

Tracey J. Shors

The author is in the Department of Psychology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA. E-mail: shors{at}rci.rutgers.edu

http://sageke.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2003/49/pe35

Key Words: Alzheimer's disease • neurogenesis • learning • hippocampus • memory

Abstract: It now appears that new neurons are produced not only in the healthy adult brain but also in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although the function of new neurons in the healthy brain is unknown, there is evidence that they are involved in certain types of memory formation and that their survival is enhanced dramatically and persistently by learning experiences. The evidence that neurogenesis, or at least the expression of proteins unique to immature neurons, occurs during the late stages of AD raises the possibility that their production could be enhanced earlier in the disease process before so many neurons and memories are lost.

Citation: T. J. Shors, Can New Neurons Replace Memories Lost? Sci. Aging Knowl. Environ. 2003 (49), pe35 (2003).

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