A Russian scientist spoke about slowing down aging thanks to microbes from young organisms

At the Council of the Russian Academy of Sciences they talked about the mechanism of life extension

The intestinal microbiota ages along with its owner. The head of the department of molecular microbiology and bioinformatics of the Research Institute of Systems Biology and Medicine, member RAS correspondent Elena Ilyina.

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Until recently, according to Ilyina, issues of aging were grouped around what happens to the human body, for example, around its genomic rearrangements. But with the accumulation of knowledge that man is a mega-organism, and there is another genome in him – this is the genome of microflora, researchers have entered a new vector of searching for the causes of withering of the body.

 Elena Nikolaevna recalled that along with a decrease in physical and cognitive functions, subacute inflammation of the body (inflaming),  When a person reaches the age of 70, the microflora also changes. However, scientists have not yet figured out what comes first. 

With aging of the intestinal microbiota, according to her, fecal bacteria and bifidobacteria leave it, the number of bacteroides decreases, and, conversely, Akkermansia, ruminococci and eubacteria increase.

Fecal bacteria — one of the most numerous and important groups of bacteria in the human intestinal microflora. Normally, they constitute about 5% of the total number of bacteria in the human large intestine. They have anti-inflammatory properties;

Bifidobacteria – carry out physiological protection of the intestinal barrier from the penetration of microbes and toxins into the internal environment of the body;

Bacteroides – are involved in the processes of carbohydrate fermentation, protein utilization and biotransformation of bile acids;

 Akkermansia – one of the main bacteria in the intestines that decompose mucus;

Ruminococcus — sugar-loving bacteria, an increase in the number of which is associated with inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome and colon cancer.

Eubacteria — belong to the normal intestinal microflora, but half of them can cause inflammation.

Using the example of a study by Chinese scientists from the city  Jiaolin Elena Ilyina showed the relationship between intestinal microbiota and life expectancy. She named lactobacilli as one of the key bacteria leading to longevity.

The scientist also drew attention to experiments on transplanting healthy microbiota from young mice to their aged relatives. As a result, the aging of the latter slowed down. Similar studies are being conducted in many countries around the world.