Advance in the study of compounds with potential activities in promotion of adult hippocampal neurogenesis

With the increasing size of aging population all over the world, the incidence of Alzheimer's disease has reached to the highest level in many developed countries. However, the etiology of Alzheimer's disease remains largely unknown especially in the biological mechanism. Up to now, it is still a challenge that the disease can't be controlled by the approved clinical medicines. As a result, new therapeutic strategies are urgently needed to prevent and cure Alzheimer's disease. The hippocampus area is associated with learning, memory, cognitive regulation in the central nervous system, which is closely related to Alzheimer's disease. Adult neurogenesis in hippocampal area allows new neuronal cells to emerge in the central nervous system. The brain's plasticity is achieved in some sense. This review focuses on the progress in the study of variety of compounds in promotion of neurogenesis in adult hippocampal area in recent years. The potential of these compounds may shed a light on postponing the occurring of Alzheimer's disease or even curing it.