In new bodies, brain cells find longer lives

The search for the fountain of youth is nothing new; we humans have long been trying to lengthen our lifespans. In recent years, science and medicine have made great strides in increasing how long we live. The average life expectancy of an American is now more than 78 years, up nearly a decade since 1960. But as we live longer and longer, what will happen to the cells that compose our brains?  If we are able to live to 120, 150, or longer, can our brain cells survive that long too? Or in the future, will our neurons die long before we do, leaving our brains depleted?

To start answering this question, three Italian researchers carried out a series of transplant experiments and found that neurons can last far longer than the organisms in which they originated. In this week’s issue of PNAS, the scientists describe their research, which suggests neuron survival may be more flexible than previously thought.

The researchers chose to work with mice and rats. The two animals are similar in many regards, but they differ substantially in their life expectancy (rats survive far longer than mice). By transplanting cells between these two species, the scientists could determine whether neurons have a pre-programmed lifespan based on genetics or whether they have more plasticity.