Microbes travel back in time as research uncovers their potential to reverse brain aging – sciencedaily



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APC Microbiome Ireland (APC) research at University College Cork (UCC) published today in the leading international scientific journal Natural aging introduces a new approach to reverse aspects of aging-related deterioration in the brain and cognitive function via microbes in the gut.

As our population ages, one of the world’s biggest challenges is developing strategies to maintain healthy brain function. This groundbreaking research opens up potentially new therapeutic avenues in the form of microbial interventions to slow brain aging and associated cognitive problems.

The work was carried out by researchers at APC’s Brain-Gut-Microbiota lab led by Professor John F. Cryan, Vice President of Research and Innovation, University College Cork as well as a senior researcher at APC Microbiome Ireland, an SFI research center, based at University College Cork and Teagasc Moorepark.

There is a growing appreciation for the importance of microbes in the gut to all aspects of physiology and medicine. In this latest mouse study, the authors show that by transplanting microbes from young animals into older animals, they could rejuvenate aspects of the brain and immune function. Professor John F. Cryan says: “Previous research published by the APC and other groups internationally has shown that the gut microbiome plays a key role in aging and the aging process. This new research is a potential game changer, as we’ve established that the microbiome can be harnessed to reverse age-related brain damage. We are also seeing evidence of improved learning ability and cognitive function. Although very exciting, Cryan warns that ‘it is still early days and much more work is needed to see how these findings could be transferred to humans.’

APC Director Professor Paul Ross said, “This research by Professor Cryan and colleagues further demonstrates the importance of the gut microbiome in many aspects of health, and in particular in the brain / brain axis. intestine where the functioning of the brain can be positively influenced. The study opens up possibilities in the future to modulate the gut microbiota as a therapeutic target to influence the health of the brain “The study was led by the co- first authors, Dr Marcus Boehme, with doctoral students Katherine E. Guzzetta and Thomaz Bastiaansen.

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