Ageing of the gut microbiome: Potential influences on immune senescence and inflammageing

• Published in: Ageing research reviews 2021-07, Vol.68, p.101323-101323, Article 101323
• Main Authors: Conway, Jessica, A Duggal, Niharika
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ageing; Immunesenescence; Inflammaging; Microbiome
• ISSN: 1568-1637; 1872-9649
• DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2021.101323

•Microbiome is a determinant of health and longevity with advancing age.•Age associated changes in microbiome impact immune system.•Alteration of the gut microbiome can reverse immune ageing. Advancing age is accompanied by changes in the gut microbiota characterised by a loss of beneficial commensal microbes that is driven by intrinsic and extrinsic factors such as diet, medications, sedentary behaviour and chronic health conditions. Concurrently, ageing is accompanied by an impaired ability to mount a robust immune response, termed immunesenescence, and age-associated inflammation, termed inflammaging. The microbiome has been proposed to impact the immune system and is a potential determinant of healthy aging. In this review we summarise the knowledge on the impact of ageing on microbial dysbiosis, intestinal permeability, inflammaging, and the immune system and investigate whether dysbiosis of the gut microbiota could be a potential mechanism underlying the decline in immune function, overall health and longevity with advancing age. Furthermore, we examine the potential of altering the gut microbiome composition as a novel intervention strategy to reverse the immune ageing clock and possibly support overall good health during old age.