The Microbiome and Aging.


Author: Bana B1, Cabreiro F2,3

Affiliation: <sup>1</sup>Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London and Birkbeck, University of London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.

<sup>2</sup>MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom; email: f.cabreiro@lms.mrc.ac.uk.

<sup>3</sup>Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom.
Conference/Journal: Annu Rev Genet.
Date published: 2019 Dec 3
Other:
 Volume ID: 53   ,  Pages: 239-261   ,  Special Notes: doi: 10.1146/annurev-genet-112618-043650. Epub  2019 Sep 5.   ,  Word Count: 155  
    Aging is a natural process of organismal decay that underpins the development of myriad diseases and disorders. Extensive efforts have been made to understand the biology of aging and its regulation, but most studies focus solely on the host organism. Considering the pivotal role of the microbiota in host health and metabolism, we propose viewing the host and its microbiota as a single biological entity whose aging phenotype is influenced by the complex interplay between host and bacterial genetics. In this review we present how the microbiota changes as the host ages, but also how the intricate relationship between host and indigenous bacteria impacts organismal aging and life span. In addition, we highlight other microbiota-dependent mechanisms that potentially regulate aging, and present experimental animal models for addressing these questions. Importantly, we propose microbiome dysbiosis as an additional hallmark and biomarker of aging.



KEYWORDS: aging; caloric restriction; hologenome; inflammation; life span; microbiome



PMID: 31487470  DOI: 10.1146/annurev-genet-112618-043650