Aging is influenced by a complicated web of hereditary and environmental factors. Increasing evidence suggests that the gut microbiome lies at the core of many age-related changes, including problems in the immune system and increased risk of many diseases. The gut microbiota undergoes extensive changes across the lifespan, and age-related processes may influence the gut microbiota.
The intestinal tract is the largest surface in the human body that directly interacts with foreign antigens; it is covered with an extremely complex and diverse community of microorganisms, known as the gut microbiome. In a healthy gut, microbial communities maintain a balanced metabolism. Abnormal shifts in the gut microbiome, however, have been implicated in the causes of age-related chronic diseases, including obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases. As a result, the presence of particular bacteria appears to play a role in aging and the risk of developing common diseases. Therefore, the gut microbiome is emerging as a key factor in the aging process.
Many studies show that having the correct bacteria in your stomach can help you live longer The influence of the environment on health, throughout life, is much more important in determining the presence and development of the disease than the genetics of a person.1
With age, the gut microbiota composition changes and there is a decline in its diversity, a decrease in “good” bacteria, and an increase in bad “bacteria”.2
Additionally, recent research discusses the role of gut microbiota in aging processes with emphasis on the therapeutic potential of microbiome-targeted interventions in anti-aging medicine.
Our lifestyle choices can have an impact on the balance of bacteria in the gut. Therefore, by studying the composition of the gut microbiota, we could improve mortality prediction. The more we know about how our microbiome influences our health, the better we can optimize it. To date, have emphasized the importance of a diversified, nutritious diet on a person’s health —one that includes fermented foods like kefir and sauerkraut, kombucha, and yogurt—as well as polyphenol-rich foods like dark chocolate and blueberries.
1. Mohtat D, Susztak K. Fine Tuning Gene Expression: The Epigenome. Semin Nephrol 2010;30:468–76.
2. Bischoff, S.C., 2016. Microbiota and aging. Curr. Opin. Clin. Nutr. Metab. Care. 19(1), 26–30. Boyle, R.J., Robins-Browne, R.M., Tang, M.L., 2006. Probiotic use in clinical practice: what are the risks? Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 83(6), 1256-64; quiz 1446−1447.
