Do Brain Cells Regenerate? Yes, and You Can Help

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Last updated September 2, 2024.
Edited and medically reviewed by Patrick Alban, DC. Written by Deane Alban.

Many mental health conditions are linked to an impaired ability to regenerate brain cells. Learn how you can stimulate cell growth to boost brain health.

In the last 20 years, there’s been a complete reversal in one fundamental concept about the human brain.

Previously, it was believed that new brain cells were no longer created once you reached adulthood.

This is a grim thought, since so many things, including simply getting older, kill brain cells.

But with the development of more sophisticated tools, the depth and breadth of our knowledge of the brain has exploded.

And one of the most exciting and important recent discoveries is that brain cells DO regenerate throughout your entire life. 

We now know that neurogenesis — the formation of new brain cells — is not only possible, it happens every day.

This is not simply a fascinating piece of information, it’s news you can use.

Researchers have identified ways you can actively promote the growth of new brain cells.

How to Boost Brain Cell Regeneration

The brain can make thousands of new neurons every day and maintains this ability well into old age. 

By the time you turn 50, you will have replaced the original neurons in your hippocampus, your brain’s “memory center,” with all new neurons

Initially, adult neurogenesis was found to occur in only two regions of the brain: the hippocampus and the striatum. 

But now there’s evidence that new brain cells can also grow in the amygdala, the hypothalamus, the olfactory bulb, and possibly the cerebral cortex. 

It seems likely that neurogenesis will be found in other areas of the brain as research continues.

" The saying “use it or lose it” applies to the brain just as it does to muscles. Any brain cells or neural connections that are not regularly used are allowed to wither and die due to a process called synaptic pruning.

A number of major neurotransmitters are involved in adult neurogenesis, including serotonin, dopamine, GABA, and glutamate. 

But the two most important brain chemicals for promoting the formation of new brain cells are brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF).

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Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is one of the most active substances involved in neurogenesis.

It has been called “Miracle-Gro” for the brain because it helps the brain grow and flourish.

It encourages the growth of new brain cells and helps keep existing brain cells healthy via a variety of mechanisms. 

Nerve growth factor (NGF) was the first growth factor to be discovered.

NGF heals and protects nerve cells, and stimulates the growth of new ones in both the brain and the nervous system.

When Neurogenesis Is Critical

Virtually everyone can benefit from having more brain cells, but there are some situations where neurogenesis is critical.

Living with a high level of stress leads to a decrease in BDNF and an increase in cognitive impairment, making brain cell regeneration especially important. 

Increasing brain cell production in seniors can help counteract age-related cognitive decline. 

A wide range of psychiatric and neurological disorders have been linked to dysfunctional neurogenesis, including: 

  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • brain tumors
  • depression
  • epilepsy
  • Huntington’s disease
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • stroke
  • substance use disorders
  • traumatic brain injury

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Additionally, abnormal levels of BDNF are associated with: 

  • anxiety disorders
  • burnout syndrome
  • dementia
  • depression
  • eating disorders
  • obesity
  • obsessive-compulsive disorder
  • post-traumatic stress disorder
  • schizophrenia
  • sleep disorders

Certain medications restrict new neuron growth, but actively promoting neurogenesis may offset their effects.

For example, antibiotics don’t just kill bacteria, they also halt the production of new brain cells

Some cancer patients have been known to get depressed even after they’ve been pronounced cured.

Apparently, the drugs that stop their cancer cells from growing also stop the formation of new neurons, triggering their depression.

Antidepressants like Prozac are believed to alleviate depression by increasing the neurotransmitter serotonin.

But there’s evidence that antidepressants increase brain cell growth in the hippocampus as well.

So when these drugs work to alleviate depression, it may be due to this unintended effect. 

How to Increase Brain Cell Production With Your Diet

Researchers have discovered some unexpected ways that diet affects brain cell regeneration

It’s not just what you eat, but how much you eat and how often you eat that matters as well.

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Taking quality nutritional supplements:
  • Provides the building blocks to create new brain cells and brain chemicals
  • Helps increase resilience to stress to avoid mental burnout
  • Supplies the brain with the fuel it needs for mental energy

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Calorie Restriction

Eating fewer calories and eating less frequently can help grow new brain cells. 

Calorie restriction has been linked to increased neurogenesis.

This is believed to work by decreasing inflammation and increasing BDNF

Intermittent Fasting

Another strategy for increasing neurogenesis with food is to practice intermittent fasting.

This involves increasing the time between meals, up to 16 hours.

It’s not as hard as it sounds since you are probably asleep half of those hours. 

For example, having dinner at 6 pm and breakfast the following day at 10 am qualifies as intermittent fasting.

Harder-to-Chew Foods

Strangely, eating foods you must chew vigorously increases brain cell formation.

This makes a crunchy salad better for brain cell growth than juicing or making a smoothie with those same vegetables. 

And while healthy fats are essential for brain health, a diet containing excessive amounts of saturated fat can slow down neurogenesis. 

Foods and Supplements That Encourage Brain Cell Growth

Certain nutrients have neurogenerative properties.

Most of these nutrients can be obtained directly from food and are also available as supplements.

Omega-3 Fats

Omega-3 essential fatty acids promote the production of new neurons

Omega-3 fats are found mainly in cold-water, fatty fish.

You can also get them from fish oil or krill oil supplements.

Flavonoids

Flavonoids are highly potent antioxidants that occur naturally in some plant foods.

The flavonoids found in blueberries, cocoa, and green tea are particularly effective at stimulating the formation of new brain cells. 

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Curcumin

Curcumin is the main bioactive component in the spice turmeric (Curcuma longa).

It provides many brain benefits, including increasing BDNF and stimulating neurogenesis in the hippocampus.

Resveratrol

Resveratrol, a compound found in red wine, increases brain cell growth, but alcohol decreases it.

This inspired neuroscience researcher Sandrine Thuret, PhD, to call red wine a “neurogenesis neutral” drink

So you may be better off getting resveratrol from non-alcoholic sources such as grapes, pistachios, peanuts, peanut butter, blueberries, raspberries, cranberries, and chocolate.

Skip resveratrol supplements which don’t work very well.

They have a low bioavailability and a short half-life once consumed.

Olive Oil

Olive oil may encourage the growth of brain cells by boosting levels of both brain-derived neurotrophic factor and nerve growth factor

For maximum brain cell regeneration, use a high-quality, extra virgin olive oil.

Apigenin

Apigenin is a phenolic compound that promotes neurogenesis. 

It is found in many fruits and vegetables, but its best food sources are parsley, celery, and chamomile tea. 

While not common, apigenin supplements are available.

L-Theanine

L-theanine is a compound found almost exclusively in all true teas (Camellia sinensis).

It’s mostly associated with green tea, but is found in comparable amounts in black, white, and oolong teas as well.

L-theanine is highly regarded for its unique ability to induce a desirable state of “relaxed focus.”

It increases BDNF and NGF to stimulate the growth of new neurons. 

You can get l-theanine by drinking tea or taking an l-theanine supplement.

Choline

Citicoline, a precursor of choline, is a naturally occurring compound found in every cell of the body.

It protects and repairs existing brain cells and promotes the growth of new ones

It’s found mainly in foods that few find appealing.

So unless you’re up for eating liver or brain, you’ll probably want to take a citicoline supplement instead.

Lion’s Mane

Lion’s mane mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) is a culinary delicacy that tastes like shrimp or lobster.

So far, approximately 70 bioactive compounds have been identified in lion’s mane, including two groups of compounds not found anywhere else — the hericenones and the erinacines

These unique compounds encourage the formation of nerve growth factor

Lion’s mane mushrooms are not readily available as a food, so most people who want its benefits take it as a supplement.

Gotu Kola

Gotu kola (Centella asiatica) is an herb that activates the release of BDNF and NGF.

It also contains other compounds that promote the growth of neurons. 

Gotu kola is both an important traditional herbal remedy and a versatile cooking ingredient in Asian countries.

But in most Western countries, it’s available only as a supplement.

Multivitamin

And finally, certain nutritional deficiencies can impair new brain cell growth.

Inadequate intake of vitamin A, B vitamins (thiamine and folate), and zinc can decrease the production of new brain cells and make them less likely to survive.

But taking a high-quality multivitamin that contains these nutrients can help boost brain cell production. 

Grow and Maintain New Brain Cells With a Mental Workout

One of the most fascinating examples of neurogenesis in action has been observed in the brains of London cab drivers.

London cabbies give their brains a tremendous workout by memorizing the streets and landmarks of London.

Using MRIs, researchers discovered that the hippocampus of a typical London cabbie is significantly larger than normal. 

The hippocampus is the part of the brain responsible for storing and organizing memories and for spatial navigation.

But you don’t have to memorize the 25,000 streets and 20,000 landmarks in London to grow your hippocampus.

Any time you challenge your brain with an activity that’s new and complex, it helps build your brain in two ways.

It stimulates the formation of new brain cells and ensures that new ones stick around. 

The saying “use it or lose it” applies to the brain just as it does to muscles. 

Any brain cells or neural connections that are not regularly used are allowed to wither and die due to a process called synaptic pruning.

Stimulate Neurogenesis With Physical Exercise

Any kind of physical exercise is good for your brain and mental health, but, so far, the evidence points to sustained, moderate-intensity, aerobic exercise as the best for growing new brain cells. 

This includes exercises like jogging, biking, hiking, power walking, or swimming. 

Harvard Medical School psychiatrist John Ratey, MD, author of Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, is a leading authority on how exercise impacts the brain.

Dr. Ratey recommends performing aerobic exercise according to this routine for maximum cognitive benefits:

  • Sprint for 30 to 40 seconds.
  • Exercise at a gentle pace for 5 minutes.
  • Repeat for a total of 5 cycles.

If possible, exercise outdoors.

Researchers have noted a strong correlation between the production of BDNF and sunlight

BDNF levels in humans vary widely with the seasons, with the highest concentrations occurring in spring and summer and the lowest during fall and winter.

If aerobic exercise sounds too demanding, opt for a less strenuous alternative.

Mind-body exercises, such as yoga, can increase new brain cell production in the hippocampus.

These types of exercises also reduce stress, a known disruptor of brain cell regeneration. 

How Sleep Affects Brain Cell Regeneration

Getting adequate quality sleep is one of the most important things you can do for the health of your brain and your mental wellness.

Sleep works by a number of mechanisms to promote brain health.

Chronic lack of sleep can stop the formation of brain cells, but fortunately, the occasional sleepless night seems to have little effect on brain cell regeneration

But when you have an occasional bad night, be sure to get some exercise the following day.

Exercise offsets the negative effects of poor sleep on BDNF levels. 

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