Can you create new brain cells?
Sarah Duran
Updated on February 28, 2026
The good news is that scientists have now discovered that you can grow new brain cells throughout your entire life. The process is called neurogenesis. Specifically, new brain cells–which are called neurons–grow in the hippocampus.
Can you regenerate new brain cells?
When adult brain cells are injured, they revert to an embryonic state, say researchers. In their newly adopted immature state, the cells become capable of re-growing new connections that, under the right conditions, can help to restore lost function.Can you build more brain cells?
The hippocampus is the brain region responsible for learning, storing long-term memories, and regulating emotions. Sustained aerobic exercise in particular (think: jogging, swimming and power walking) has been found to increase the growth of brain cells in this part of the brain.Are new brain cells made?
Most of our neurons - brain cells that send electrical signals - are indeed in place by the time we are born. Studies on other mammals have found new brains cells forming later in life, but the extent of "neurogenesis" in the human brain is still a source of debate.How long does it take to make new brain cells?
According to one recent study by researchers from the University of Illinois, new cells in the macaque dentate gyrus take at least six months to mature fully. Adult neurogenesis is implicated in depression and Alzheimer's disease, both of which involve hippocampal shrinkage.You can grow new brain cells. Here's how | Sandrine Thuret
What kills your brain cells?
Alcohol does kill brain cells. Some of those cells can be regenerated over time. In the meantime, the existing nerve cells branch out to compensate for the lost functions. This damage may be permanent.Does GREY matter regenerate?
Some newer research suggests that some areas of the brain can make new neurons, called neurogenesis, but this is still an unproven theory. For now, there is no known way for you to replace lost grey matter.Can you repair your brain?
No, you cannot heal a damaged brain. Medical treatments can just help to stop further damage and limit the functional loss from the damage. The healing process of the brain is not the same as the skin.Why can't brain cells regenerate?
The biggest challenge with replacing dead neurons with stem cells is to have these newcomer neurons integrate, or fit into, the existing brain networks the right way. The new neurons can't just hang out in the brain, we need them to form connections with other cells and do the job that all neurons do: process signals.How many brain cells do we lose each day?
People can lose about 10,000 neurons every day. A figure that if we add it up, a year represents the loss of more than three and a half million.Can brain damage reversed?
While damage to the brain cannot be reversed, functions affected by TBI can be recovered thanks to the brain's natural ability to rewire itself.Does the brain eat itself?
We may imagine it to be a relatively unchanging structure, but recent research has shown that the brain is in fact continuously changing its microstructure, and it does so by 'eating' itself. The processes of eating things outside the cell, including other cells, is called phagocytosis.Do brain cells make you smarter?
Increasing the size of neural circuits in the brain can boost learning performance, but this increased connectivity also has the potential to impede learning, new research has revealed. In short, adding neurons and connections to a brain can help learning – up to a point.Can the brain heal itself from depression?
A depressed person's brain does not function normally, but it can recover, according to a study published in the August 11 issue of Neurology, the American Academy of Neurology's scientific journal. Researchers measured the brain's responsiveness using magnetic stimulation over the brain and targeted muscle movement.Can the brain feel pain?
Answer: There are no pain receptors in the brain itself. But he meninges (coverings around the brain), periosteum (coverings on the bones), and the scalp all have pain receptors. Surgery can be done on the brain and technically the brain does not feel that pain.Do brain cells regenerate every 7 years?
The thing that makes you the person you are (your brain) doesn't make new neurons after its inception. The brain where your memories, ideas, beliefs, personality and every other detail of you remains the same throughout your life. In conclusion, the claim that our body completely changes every 7 years is false.How can I increase my brain cells naturally?
This article lists 11 foods that boost your brain.
- Fatty fish. When people talk about brain foods, fatty fish is often at the top of the list. ...
- Coffee. If coffee is the highlight of your morning, you'll be glad to hear that it's good for you. ...
- Blueberries. ...
- Turmeric. ...
- Broccoli. ...
- Pumpkin seeds. ...
- Dark chocolate. ...
- Nuts.