Aging through the lens of the gut microbiome: Challenges and therapeutic opportunities

Abstract

Aging is a complex biological process influenced by genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Among these, the gut microbiome plays a crucial role in modulating health and disease across the lifespan. This review explores the dynamic relationship between aging and the gut microbiome, highlighting its implications for age-related diseases. As individuals age, the gut microbiome undergoes significant compositional and functional changes, often leading to dysbiosis—an imbalance associated with increased inflammation, weakened immunity, and metabolic disorders. The phenomenon of inflammaging, characterized by chronic low-grade inflammation, is closely linked to gut microbial alterations and contributes to neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular conditions, and metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes. Additionally, the gut-brain axis is emerging as a critical pathway in neurocognitive aging, with microbial metabolites influencing brain function and neuroprotection.

Given these insights, targeted interventions such as probiotics, prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) are being explored as potential strategies to restore microbial balance and improve health outcomes in the elderly. Diet, antibiotics, and medication use also play pivotal roles in shaping gut microbiota composition, further influencing longevity and disease susceptibility. This review synthesizes current research on the aging gut microbiome and discusses therapeutic advancements aimed at mitigating age-related diseases through microbiome-based strategies. Finally, we provide a perspective on future directions in microbiome research, emphasizing its potential in precision medicine for aging populations. Understanding the gut microbiome's role in aging offers novel opportunities for promoting longevity and enhancing quality of life in older adults.