Sandrine Thuret: You can grow new brain cells. Here's how
Sandrine Thuret studies the way adult brains create new nerve cells in the hippocampus -- a brain area involved in memory and mood. Full bio
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about that question,
to one of my colleagues, Robert,
they are cured of their cancer
that makes sense.
that stops the cancer cells multiplying
being generated in their brain."
like I was crazy and said,
"Well actually, we do."
that we call neurogenesis.
he was not taught what we know now --
can generate new nerve cells.
being the good doctor that he is,
a little bit better.
parts of the brain
in the center of the brain.
for very long,
memory, mood and emotion.
have learned more recently
structures of the adult brain
in an adult mouse brain.
from the Karolinska Institutet,
700 new neurons per day
of neurons we have.
we were born with in that structure
and what are their functions?
for learning and memory.
of the adult brain
for spatial recognition --
your way in the city.
for memory capacity,
to add time to our memory
very similar memories, like:
every day in the same area,
to my colleague Robert
on neurogenesis and depression.
a lower level of neurogenesis.
of these newborn neurons,
the symptoms of depression,
between neurogenesis and depression.
just block neurogenesis,
of the antidepressant.
were suffering from depression
newborn neurons from being generated.
to generate new neurons
we have enough evidence
is a target of choice
memory formation or mood,
associated with aging,
of behaviors and activities,
they will increase neurogenesis
of these new neurons.
of new neurons in the hippocampus.
the production of new neurons.
leading to sleep deprivation.
will decrease as we get older,
Rusty Gage from the Salk Institute,
can have an impact
of the hippocampus of a mouse
are actually newborn neurons-to-be.
of the hippocampus of a mouse
the new neurons-to-be.
but that's not all.
in the hippocampus.
to have efficacy.
to point a few out to you:
will increase neurogenesis.
spacing the time between your meals --
in dark chocolate or blueberries,
of these new neurons.
in high saturated fat
on neurogenesis.
will decrease neurogenesis.
contained in red wine,
the survival of these new neurons.
"neurogenesis-neutral" drink.
let me point out the last one --
with food textures,
soft diet impairs neurogenesis,
mastication -- chewing -- or crunchy food.
at the cellular level,
to human participants,
the diet modulates memory and mood
as it modulates neurogenesis,
will improve memory capacity,
symptoms of depression --
which increase neurogenesis,
the symptoms of depression.
of the new neurons in the hippocampus.
of the food, when you eat it
interested in neurogenesis --
the function of these new neurons,
and their production.
the neurogenesis of Robert's patients.
of your neurogenesis.
Fantastic research, Sandrine.
in the running thing.
about aerobic exercise,
if it's just the running itself,
will increase the production --
a running wheel in my office?
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Sandrine Thuret - Neural stem cell researcherSandrine Thuret studies the way adult brains create new nerve cells in the hippocampus -- a brain area involved in memory and mood.
Why you should listen
In her lab at King's College London, Sandrine Thuret studies adult neurogenesis -- the process by which adult brains create new nerve cells. (Until the 1990s, we didn't even know they did this!)
Thuret's work focuses on the hippocampus, the area of the brain that is related to memory, and her work asks two big questions: How can we help our healthy brains create new nerve cells throughout our lives, through diet and behavior changes? And how can we study the effects of diseases such as depression and Alzheimer's on our brains' ability to grow?
Sandrine Thuret | Speaker | TED.com