The Gut Macrobiome in Chronic Inflammation and Aging

In recent years, a great deal of attention has been devoted to the role of the gut microbiome in aging, as populations shift to include fewer helpful and more harmful microbes. In particular, the ability of the gut microbiome to influence the state of chronic inflammation in aging may be at least as important as lifestyle choices such as degree of exercise. Expanding this line of thinking, researchers here look at the macrobiome, small parasitic animals that dwell in the gut, and their role in age-related inflammation. A new review looks at the growing evidence to suggest that losing our 'old friend' helminth parasites, which used to live relatively harmlessly in our bodies, can cause ageing-associated inflammation. It raises the possibility that carefully controlled, restorative helminth treatments could prevent ageing and protect against diseases such as heart disease and dementia. "A decline in exposure to commensal microbes and gut helminths in developed countries has been linked to increased prevalence of allergic and autoimmune inflammatory disorders - the so-called 'old friends hypothesis'. A further possibility is that this loss of 'old friend' microbes and helminths increases the sterile, ageing-associated inflammation known as inflammageing." Helminths have infected humans throughout our evolutionary history, and as a result have become master manipulators of our immune response. Humans, in turn, have evolved levels of tolerance to their presence. Th...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs