Pharmacological Neurogenesis is the targeted induction or measurable enhancement of new neuron formation from endogenous neural stem cells within the adult brain, particularly concentrated in the hippocampus, through the systemic administration of specific pharmaceutical agents. This therapeutic strategy is explicitly aimed at actively counteracting neurodegenerative processes, significantly improving measurable cognitive function, and effectively modulating the symptoms of mood disorders such as major depression. It represents a direct, structural intervention designed to restore and augment functional brain capacity.
Origin
The term is a precise combination of “pharmacological,” referring to the therapeutic use of drugs or chemical compounds, with “neurogenesis,” the biological process of generating new neurons, derived from the Greek neuron (nerve) and genesis (creation). The concept arose from the scientific discovery of persistent adult neurogenesis and the subsequent search for compounds capable of enhancing this vital process.
Mechanism
Pharmaceutical agents that successfully promote neurogenesis typically work by activating key intracellular signaling pathways, such as the CREB pathway, or by measurably increasing the expression of crucial neurotrophic factors, most notably Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF). Certain compounds can directly influence the proliferation, subsequent differentiation, and ultimate survival of neural progenitor cells specifically located in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus. This powerful cellular mechanism offers a direct pathway for achieving long-term structural adaptation and sustained cognitive improvement.
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