The gut microbiome is made up of thousands of microbial species in various proportions. The balance of populations shifts with age to favor harmful, inflammatory microbes over beneficial microbes that manufacture metabolites necessary to normal tissue function. This contributes to degenerative aging to some degree. One of the few ways to permanently alter the gut microbiome is to transplant fecal matter from one animal to another. Fecal microbiota transplantation from a young donor to an old recipient rejuvenates the gut microbiome, restoring youthful population levels. The study here is one of a number to demonstrate that this procedure improves health in old mice, …
Fecal Microbiota Transplantation from Young Mice to Old Mice Improves Health
The gut microbiome is made up of thousands of microbial species in various proportions. The balance of populations shifts with age to favor harmful, inflammatory microbes over beneficial microbes that manufacture metabolites necessary to normal tissue function. This contributes to degenerative aging to some degree. One of the few ways to permanently alter the gut microbiome is to transplant fecal matter from one animal to another. Fecal microbiota transplantation from a young donor to an old recipient rejuvenates the gut microbiome, restoring youthful population levels. The study here is one of a number to demonstrate that this procedure improves health in old mice, …