Why does the brain continue to grow? What does this mean for how we learn, heal, and even pray? A new scientific discovery is shedding light on the human brain’s capacity to renew itself — and for Catholics, it offers a deeper understanding of God’s design for the human person.
For decades, scientists have debated whether the adult human brain can produce new neurons, especially in the hippocampus — the part of the brain responsible for forming memories and regulating emotions. Now, a groundbreaking study from researchers at the Karolinska Institute and Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden offers “some of the clearest evidence yet” that neurogenesis — the birth of new brain cells — continues well into adulthood, according to Science (Dumitru et al., 2025).
“This gives us an important piece of the puzzle in understanding how the human brain works and changes during life,” says Jonas Frisén, molecular biologist and senior author of the study.
Using RNA analysis on brain samples from people aged up to 78, the researchers identified cells in the dentate gyrus region of the hippocampus that were still functioning as neural progenitor cells — meaning they had the potential to generate new neurons. These findings, according to Frisén, offer solid confirmation: “We have now been able to identify these cells of origin, which confirms that there is an ongoing formation of neurons in the hippocampus of the adult brain.”
This has important implications for how we understand the human person as both body and soul. The Church teaches that each person is a unity of spirit and flesh. If the body — including the brain — is capable of ongoing renewal, it supports what Catholic tradition has long affirmed: we are not static beings, but pilgrims capable of growth, healing, and transformation throughout life.
The researchers found that neurogenesis slows as we age, but it doesn’t stop entirely. More remarkably, the study also found that this regeneration varies from person to person. This variability could explain differences in memory, personality, and even susceptibility to disease. It raises intriguing theological questions: how does grace cooperate with nature in forming our habits of thought, memory, and emotional life?
The scientists used machine learning to trace the development of these brain cells from “blank slate” stem cells to maturing neurons. According to the study, similarities were also observed between human neural progenitor cells and those in animals like pigs, monkeys, and mice — highlighting both the uniqueness and commonality of creation.
Though the study did not focus on specific brain disorders, it lays the groundwork for future research into psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases, which could be influenced by a person’s capacity to generate new neurons. “Our research may also have implications for the development of regenerative treatments that stimulate neurogenesis in neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders,” Frisén told Science.
For Catholics, this study invites awe and reflection. The human brain, created by God, is not fixed or finished at adulthood. Even as we age, it appears we are biologically designed to grow — mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Memory and learning are not only faculties of the brain; they are tools for deepening our relationship with God and others. The fact that our brains can regenerate suggests we are truly “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14), destined for renewal, not decline.
As researchers continue to uncover the mysteries of the mind, we are reminded of the Church’s wisdom: that science, when rightly pursued, reveals the handiwork of the Creator.
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