Do brain cells regenerate?

Brain cells regenerate, as a result of neurogenesis. Neurogenesis is a process in which the creation of new neuronal cells occurs.

Throughout life, the cells in a healthy person's brain both regenerate and degrade. However, in a healthy person, this balance prevents the brain from not having adequate cells for optimal function. With certain diseases, such as depression and dementia, this balance may not occur, resulting in more brain cells degrading than regenerating. The new nerve cells that occur as a result of neurogenesis are thanks to stem cells. Stem cells are a type of undifferentiated cell that is present in various multicellular organisms.