Dendritic growth in the aged human brain and failure of growth in senile dementia

摘要: Golgi-stained dendrites of single randomly chosen layer-II pyramidal neurons in the human parahippocampal gyrus were quantified with a computer-microscope system. In nondemented aged cases (average age, 79.6 years), dendritic trees more extensive than adult 51.2), most difference resulting from increases number and average length terminal segments tree. These results provide morphological evidence for plasticity mature brain. senile dementia 76.0), less brains, largely because their fewer shorter. Cells shrunken found all brains. data suggest model aging central nervous system which one population dies regresses other survives grows. The latter appears to be dominant without dementia.