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Paul J. Lucassen, PhD, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Credit: Paul J. Lucassen

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands, 2 December 2025 — In a feature published in Brain Medicine, renowned neuroscientist Dr. Paul Lucassen of the University of Amsterdam reflects on a lifetime of work uncovering how the adult brain can adapt and respond to life’s challenges. As head of the Brain Plasticity group, his studies—ranging from brain cell death and regeneration to mental health and neurodegenerative conditions—shed light on the biological forces that influence diseases like depression and dementia, impacting millions around the globe.

From Family Loss to Groundbreaking Research

Dr. Lucassen’s journey into neuroscience was sparked by personal experience when an uncle fell ill with dementia. “That experience made me curious about the brain,” he says. Pursuing this interest led him to doctoral work under Dick Swaab at the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience. They worked from the idea that brain stimulation—akin to physical training—could help neurons resist age-related degeneration. He describes the concept as “use it or lose it.” His training involved both animal experimentation and studies of human brain matter at the Netherlands Brain Bank. These foundational experiences strongly shaped his future investigations.

A turning point came during his postdoctoral studies focused on stress and depression. While prevailing theories argued that exposure to chronic stress caused neuronal death in the hippocampus, Lucassen’s findings offered a different view. “We couldn’t confirm that hypothesis,” he admits. Instead, he began to suspect that changes in the generation of new brain cells—rather than just the loss of existing ones—might be a key part of the process, especially since affected brain regions often appeared to recover with time.

A Game-Changing Lecture in London

One serendipitous event proved decisive: after hearing of a talk by Rusty Gage just in time, Lucassen flew to London on short notice. Gage’s lecture on adult neurogenesis—the formation of new neurons in fully developed brains—was a revelation. “It changed everything for me,” he recalls. Inspired, Lucassen shifted his focus entirely from studying neuronal death to exploring the birth of new brain cells in adult life.

Joined by Marian Joels and PhD student Vivi Heine (now a professor herself), Lucassen launched studies that connected adult neurogenesis with stress, aging, depression, and Alzheimer’s disease. These efforts blossomed into the Eurogenesis collaborative, an international network of scholars such as Gerd Kempermann, Nico Toni, and Nora Abrous. More recently, with partners like Liesbeth Reneman and Anouk Schrantee, Lucassen has worked on visualizing neurogenesis in living brains. He also explores whether boosting the birth of neurons could guard against diseases like Alzheimer’s, discussed with Evgenia Salta in a 2023 paper.

This feature is a part of Genomic Press’s broader efforts to spotlight impactful scientific voices and share insights that are transforming our view of brain health worldwide.

Understanding Resilience from the Start of Life

Dr. Lucassen’s current research examines how the brain’s adaptability is influenced by experiences early in life. Factors like early trauma or nurturing care can shape mental health trajectories long into adulthood. His team has even uncovered potential links between early environmental influence and resilience to dementia—a topic featured in a 2025 paper in Biological Psychiatry.

“When studying something as complex as the brain, humility is essential,” Lucassen reflects. Still, he aims to identify how plasticity mechanisms might be used for therapeutic advances. Through projects like the MODEM consortium and initiatives at the Institute for Chemical Neuroscience, his group is testing cutting-edge methods—from molecular techniques to artificial intelligence—to gain new perspectives on brain-related disorders.

Exploring Passions Outside the Lab

The interview captures Lucassen not just as a scientist, but as a person. He finds balance enjoying graphic novels and comic art, especially the works of Lafebre, Franquin, and Will Eisner. Long-distance cycling and running offer him mental clarity. His guiding principles are clear: “Lose the ego. Be kind. Stay curious.” And, as always, “Use it or lose it.”

Lucassen does not shy away from highlighting systemic issues in science. He notes gender disparities in Dutch academia, the bureaucratic obstacles in animal research, the dangers of anti-science sentiment, and funding models that favor individualism over teamwork. He stresses that “Most significant discoveries today come from interdisciplinary collaboration.”

Mentoring Tomorrow’s Scientists

What brings him the most gratification? “Helping students grow,” he responds. He has co-led a well-regarded master’s program on brain disorders for 15 years with Aniko Korosi, from which many students have moved into doctoral studies and leadership roles. His former mentees include Mike Marlatt and Floor Stam, now in leadership at prominent pharmaceutical companies, and several who became professors, like Ludo van der Pol and Vivi Heine. “Seeing them succeed is deeply rewarding,” he says.

His Brain Plasticity team now numbers over 20 members, including six lead investigators, and it contributes to major initiatives like Urban Mental Health, ZonMW-ME/CFS, and the Institute for Chemical Neuroscience.

When asked who inspires him most today, Lucassen names his mentors—Dick Swaab, Ron De Kloet, and Marian Joels—for their dedication and unique approaches. But he saves his greatest admiration for his family: “My wife Anne-Marie, our daughters Sofie and Eva, and the incredible researchers in my team—they are my real-life heroes.”

His interview appears in the Innovators & Ideas series by Genomic Press, which highlights individuals reshaping science through both professional accomplishments and personal insight. These profiles offer a detailed look not just at the science, but at the human stories behind it.

Article Details

Journal

Brain Medicine

DOI

10.61373/bm025k.0140

Method of Research

News article

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Paul J. Lucassen: How does our brain adapt to a changing and often challenging environment? How can we conceptualize brain plasticity in relation to (early) stress, nutrition, exercise, inflammation, and diseases such as depression and dementia?

Article Publication Date

2-Dec-2025

COI Statement

The author declared no conflicts of interest.