Gut & MicrobiomeHow Gut Microbes Control Aging: Molecular Clues from C. elegans
Scientists are increasingly recognizing that the gut microbiome does more than aid digestion — it actively shapes how we age. This review, published in Biogerontology, synthesizes research using the roundworm C. elegans to unpack the molecular mechanisms behind gut-microbiota-driven aging. Two main pathways emerge: microbes produce small-molecule metabolites that tap into conserved longevity signaling pathways, and microbial structural components trigger hormetic immune responses that boost host defenses. Because C. elegans shares fundamental genetic architecture with humans, insights from this model carry real translational weight. The review offers a unified framework for understanding how microbes and host cells communicate across biological kingdoms to influence lifespan, and points toward future strategies for harnessing the microbiome to extend healthy years in humans.
