Gut & MicrobiomeCertain gut bacteria may predict how fast your body ages
Your gut bacteria may reveal how quickly your body is aging. Researchers at the University of Hawaii at Manoa analyzed stool and blood samples from 123 adults of varying ages and compared gut microbial communities with DunedinPACE, a blood-based biomarker that estimates the pace of biological aging. Differences in the gut microbiome accounted for roughly 15% of the variation in aging rates, even independent of chronological age. Bifidobacterium adolescentis was among the microbes most strongly tied to slower aging, while Succinivibrio dextrinosolvens showed one of the strongest links to faster aging. Because the microbiome responds to diet, lifestyle and environment, it is a potentially modifiable factor in healthy aging. The study is an association, not proof that these bacteria cause slower or faster aging, but it points toward the gut as a promising target for future longevity strategies.
