Stem cells are amazing cells that can renew themselves through mitotic cell division. The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) published experiment results wherein the human neural stem cells quickly regenerated themselves when they were exposed to DHEA. The experiment result led scientists to conclude that the brain needs DHEA to produce new cells. 

DHEA is the short term for dehydroepiandrosterone. It is found in human blood especially among younger humans. This hormone can be bought over the counter and it has a wide range of effects which include anti-aging, cancer and heart disease prevention. It is also prescribed to minimize the effect of diseases such as stroke, Alzheimer’s and AIDS. However, members of the medical community warn against over use of this hormone since not much is known about these hormones.

A study about DHEA and human brain cells was conducted in Wisconsin. The University of Wisconsin Foundation and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research Abroad supported this study. The head of the team at UW-Madison was Clive Svendsen. Svendsen and his team conducted experiments using DHEA with human cells.

The team used human fetal neural stem cells and saw that the cells that were exposed to DHEA grew faster than those without DHEA. Svendsen noted that with the DHEA, cell division increased. According to him “It also increased the number of neurons produced by the stem cells, prompting increased neurogenesis of cells in culture.”

The implications of this discovery are far reaching. It shows the effects of DHEA to human cells and not only to lab rats. Before testing DHEA with human brain cells, it was done with rats and scientists concluded that it is neuroprotective. Lardy, a steroid chemist conducted experiments that showed that DHEA helped increase memory retention in old mice. But this does not accurately show the effects of DHEA on human cells. Old studies show that DHEA blocks fat synthesis.

Due to the recent study, scientists like Svendsen are optimistic that DHEA will have positive effects on the human brain. Some studies show that DHEA is reduced during aging and people who suffer major depressive disorders. The results of the latest experiment are only the tip of the iceberg in determining the effect of DHEA on human cells.

Results show a positive side in the experiment, but it is discouraged that humans take an extra does of DHEA so that brainpower will be increased. The side effects of DHEA are not yet completely known and humans could suffer unwanted effects.