Transplanting fecal microbiota from young mice to old ones helped partially reverse age-related changes in the brains of the latter, Irish scientists found. The work of the experts is published in the journal Nature Aging.
Recent studies show that microbes living in the human gut can not only affect local immunity, but also brain aging and the risk of neurodegenerative diseases. However, microorganisms living in the human body can change with age. So, “beneficial” bacteria are gradually replaced leading to chronic inflammation, metabolic disorders and various diseases.
Researchers at the National University of Ireland in Cork transplanted fecal microbiota from young (3-4 months) donors to old (19-20 months) mice. It turned out that the transplant reversed a number of aging-related changes in immunity. The brain also rejuvenated: for example, metabolic products and patterns of gene expression regulation, characteristic of the brains of young mice, were found in the hippocampus. What's more, stool transplantation also positively influenced hippocampal-related cognitive test behavior in aged mice.
According to scientists, the results of the study indicate that fecal transplantation has potential as a treatment for age-related cognitive disorders.
