Microbiome

Definition

The microbiome is the community of microorganisms, including bacteria, archaea, fungi, viruses, and their genes, that live in and on a host or in a defined environment. In human ageing research, the term most often refers to the gut microbiome and its relationship with metabolism, immunity, inflammation, and age-related physiological change. [1] [2]

Why It Matters in Ageing Research

The microbiome is studied in ageing because microbial communities can change across the life course and may interact with immune function, inflammatory signalling, barrier integrity, metabolism, and frailty. Researchers are also interested in whether microbiome features can help explain differences in healthy ageing between individuals, although cause and effect can be difficult to separate. [2] [3]

Common Confusion

• The microbiome is not the same as the microbiota; microbiota refers to the organisms, while microbiome often includes their genes and ecological context.
• A microbiome association with ageing does not prove that microbes caused the observed age-related change.
• Microbiome research is not the same as probiotic or supplement advice.

Related Reading

• Dysbiosis
• Inflammaging
• Immunosenescence

References

1. NIH Human Microbiome Project. The Human Microbiome Project. https://commonfund.nih.gov/hmp
2. Galkin, F., Mamoshina, P., Aliper, A., et al. (2020). Human gut microbiome aging clock based on taxonomic profiling and deep learning. iScience. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7037303/
3. O'Toole, P. W., & Jeffery, I. B. (2015). Gut microbiota and aging. Science. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aac8469