John Cryan, Vice President for Research & Innovation at the University College Cork, has written in online magazine The Conversation stating his theory that gut-health and gut-microbes are directly related to physical and mental ageing.
These theories are not new. In the late 19th century, Russian Nobel-prize winning scientist Elie Metchnikoff began exploring the connection between gut-health and both longevity and the immune system. While many of his insights have been ignored through medical history, researchers are now very aware of just important gut health is to wellbeing.
Recent studies have shown how true this is.
In a 2012 research carried out by John Cryan and his team at University College Cork showed that the makeup of gut bacteria, the 'microbiome', was closely linked to an individual's wellbeing later in life. It had already been proven that the bacterial makeup of people changes as we age.
In 2017 further research by Cryan showed that the microbiome makeup of an individual was closely related to their cognitive function, and how likely they were to develop cognitive diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer's.
These studies did not show however the link between outcome and causation.
A new study proving causation has involved transporting the gut bacteria of young mice into the guts of older mice, something that sometimes occur in humans in hospital settings, known as a 'fecal transplant'. This group of older mice were then measured against a control group of mice in the same circumstances who were not given new bacteria.
Amazingly the mice that were given the gut bacteria of young mice were shown to live longer and to have vastly improved cognitive function, including memory and problem-solving abilities.
Further research into the chemical makeup of the brain of the mice also showed that they were more similar to young mice than older mice.
Cryan does though warn:
"Working with a controlled situation of mice – which have very defined genetics, diets, and microbiome – is very different from looking at humans. We need to be careful to not over-interpret these findings. We are not advocating fecal transplants for people who want to rejuvenate their brain."
Many researchers now believe that similar research into humans may result in the ability to reverse or at least control the effect of ageing on both our bodies and our minds.
[h/t: Science Alert]
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