Harvard researchers grow human brain organoids for record seven years

A research team led by Harvard University scientists has successfully cultivated human brain organoids for a record-breaking seven years. These small, peppercorn-sized clusters of cells, grown from pluripotent stem cells, have demonstrated the ability to mature and age in a manner that closely tracks the developmental timeline of a real human brain.

Unlike typical lab-grown organoids that only last for a few months, these long-term cultures allow researchers to observe later stages of human brain development. The study, published in the journal Nature, found that the organoids possess a form of cellular “memory,” where older cells can skip early developmental stages to transition into later neuron types.

This breakthrough provides a new window into studying the onset and progression of neurological conditions such as autism, schizophrenia, and epilepsy. By providing a model that mimics postnatal brain development without relying on animal testing or human tissue, scientists hope to better understand how these disorders emerge and evolve over time.