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PMID: 19005040 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review

Adult neurogenesis, mental health, and mental illness: hope or hype?

Eisch AJ, Cameron HA, Encinas JM, Meltzer LA, Ming GL, Overstreet-Wadiche LS

Abstract

Psychiatric and neurologic disorders take an enormous toll on society. Alleviating the devastating symptoms and consequences of neuropsychiatric disorders such as addiction, depression, epilepsy, and schizophrenia is a main force driving clinical and basic researchers alike. By elucidating these disease neuromechanisms, researchers hope to better define treatments and preventive therapies. Research suggests that regulation of adult hippocampal neurogenesis represents a promising approach to treating and perhaps preventing mental illness. Here we appraise the role of adult hippocampal neurogenesis in major psychiatric and neurologic disorders within the essential framework of recent progress made in understanding "normal" adult neurogenesis. Topics addressed include the following: the life cycle of an adult hippocampal stem cell and the implications for aging; links between learning and hippocampal neurogenesis; the reciprocal relationship between cocaine self-administration and adult hippocampal neurogenesis; the role of adult neurogenesis in an animal model of depression and response to antidepressant exposure; the impact of neonatal seizures on dentate gyrus neurogenesis; and the contribution of a schizophrenia-susceptibility gene to adult hippocampal neurogenesis. These topics are discussed in light of the regulation of adult neurogenesis, the relationship to normal neurogenesis in adulthood and aging, and, importantly, the manipulation of neurogenesis to promote mental health and treat mental illness.

MeSH Terms
Aging/physiology Animals Cell Cycle/physiology Disease Models, Animal Hippocampus/cytology,physiology Humans Neurocognitive Disorders/metabolism,physiopathology,therapy Neurogenesis/physiology Neuronal Plasticity/physiology Neurons/physiology Stem Cells/physiology
Authors & Affiliations
6 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Eisch Amelia J
Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390-9070, USA. [email protected]
Cameron Heather A
Encinas Juan M
Meltzer Leslie A
Ming Guo-Li
Overstreet-Wadiche Linda S
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Article Info
Journal
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience
Abbr.
J Neurosci
ISSN
1529-2401
Published
2008-11-12
Pages
11785-91
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
8102140
PMCID
PMC2793333
Subset
IM
Grants
NIDA NIH HHS · R01 DA016765-06 · United States
NINDS NIH HHS · R01 NS048271-01 · United States
NIMH NIH HHS · MH084018 · United States
NIDA NIH HHS · K02 DA023555-02 · United States
NIDA NIH HHS · K02 DA023555-03 · United States
NINDS NIH HHS · R01 NS048271-02 · United States
NINDS NIH HHS · R01 NS048271 · United States
NINDS NIH HHS · NS0488271 · United States
NIDA NIH HHS · K02 DA023555-01 · United States
NIDA NIH HHS · R01 DA016765-05 · United States
NINDS NIH HHS · R01 NS048271-03 · United States
NICHD NIH HHS · R01 HD069184 · United States
NIDA NIH HHS · R01 DA016765 · United States
Intramural NIH HHS · ZIA MH002784-08 · United States
NIDA NIH HHS · R01 DA016765-04 · United States
Intramural NIH HHS · Z01 MH002784 · United States
NINDS NIH HHS · R01 NS048271-04 · United States
NIDA NIH HHS · R01 DA016765-03 · United States
NIMH NIH HHS · P20 MH084018-020003 · United States
NINDS NIH HHS · R01 NS048271-05 · United States
NIDA NIH HHS · K02 DA023555 · United States
NIMH NIH HHS · P20 MH084018 · United States
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