Gut & MicrobiomeMouth Bacteria Neisseria flavescens Found to Slow Aging in Animals and Humans
Researchers used an AI framework called AURORA to screen the oral microbiome for bacteria that might slow aging. They identified Neisseria flavescens (Nf), a common mouth commensal, as a top candidate. In computer simulations, higher Nf abundance correlated with younger physiological signatures and better gut microbiome composition. Lab experiments confirmed Nf produces beneficial metabolites. In C. elegans worms, live Nf extended both lifespan and healthspan. In aged mice, heat-killed Nf supplementation shifted the serum metabolome, liver gene expression, and gut microbiome toward patterns seen in younger animals. The study positions the oral microbiome as an overlooked but potentially powerful lever for systemic aging, and Nf itself as a candidate probiotic for geroprotective interventions.
