Intestinal bacteria help fight aging

Researchers analyzed a sample of elderly people in China and identified two main types of gut microbiome: one dominated by Bacteroides and the other by Prevotella. In the group with Prevotella dominance, beneficial bacteria disappeared more quickly with age, while the number of microbes with virulence factors and antibiotic resistance genes gradually increased.

BP attracted particular attention: its abundance declined sharply with age in both men and women, regardless of the type of microbiome. Using a new scale of “microbiome aging clocks” (MicroAge), scientists found that people with higher BP levels tend to have a lower biological age — this pattern was also confirmed by a number of standard clinical health indicators.

At the same time, the level of 5‑AVAB, a metabolite produced by BP and circulating in the body, also decreased with age. To find out exactly how BP affects aging, the researchers focused on 5‑AVAB. When elderly mice were given 5‑AVAB directly, their memory, motor coordination, and mood‑related behavior improved. In addition, chronic low‑level inflammation in the liver, lungs, muscles, kidneys, heart, and spleen noticeably decreased. The effects were consistent with those observed when live BP bacteria were administered directly.

Thus, according to the authors, it is 5‑AVAB that acts as the key functional metabolite providing the bacterium’s geroprotective (age‑slowing) effect.

The data obtained indicate a potentially simple approach to supporting healthy aging: replenishing the deficiency of a beneficial bacterium or taking a supplement containing its key metabolite. Of course, human application is still a long way off — safety and efficacy need to be confirmed, and it is also necessary to understand how individual differences in the microbiome will affect the outcome. However, the very idea of influencing aging through the microbiome and individual molecules looks promising.