Could boosting the gut microbiome be the secret to healthier older age?

ymedan

Fecal transplants from young to aged mice rejuvenates the immune system in the gut of aged mice

BABRAHAM INSTITUTE

marz62

@ymedan - Seems to be a variation of the parabiosis concept only with youthful fecal matter-associated microbes, instead of blood factors. Definitely an intriguing prospect; we still need to identify the specific bacterial causal agent(s). This would help in developing a Theory of Aging, but also, by isolating the therapeutic components (protein products?) of the respective commensal bacteria (e.g., species of Bacteroides, Bifidobacter, Lactibacillus, etc.) we can better target pathological conditions, and possibly formulate a 'biologic' or pharmacotherapeutic (sans fecal transplanting, which is an inexact/imprecise procedure).