Clinical Manifestations

Area of Science:

• Microbiome research
• Gerontology
• Psychoneuroimmunology

Background:

• Aging is associated with physiological and psychological changes, including increased prevalence of loneliness, anxiety, and depression in older adults.
• Gut microbiota composition shifts with age, and emerging evidence links psychosocial factors to gut dysbiosis.
• Gut dysbiosis is implicated in age-related cognitive decline, highlighting the need to study the interplay between psychosocial factors and the gut microbiome.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between psychosocial factors (loneliness, anxiety, depression) and gut microbiota composition in older adults.
• To identify specific microbial taxa associated with different age groups and psychosocial states in the elderly population.
• To explore potential gut-brain axis mechanisms influencing health outcomes in aging.

Main Methods:

• Recruitment of community-dwelling individuals aged 65 and above.
• 16S rRNA gene sequencing of 127 stool samples to analyze gut microbiota composition.
• Statistical analyses using GraphPad Prism 9.0 and R software to determine correlations.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in bacterial phyla (Actinobacteriota, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria) and genera were observed between younger (65-74) and older (≥75) age groups.
• The Megasphaera, Faecalibacterium, and Ligilactobacillus genera showed significant negative correlations with loneliness, depression, and anxiety.
• Proteobacteria, a marker of dysbiosis, was higher in the ≥75 age group, while beneficial bacteria were more abundant in the 65-74 group.

Conclusions:

• Aging disrupts gut microbiota balance, with psychosocial factors playing a significant role in modulating its composition.
• The identified microbial patterns and their correlations with psychosocial states suggest a link between gut health and mental well-being in older adults.
• Further research is warranted to explore the health impacts of these gut microbiota alterations and the potential benefits of microbial restoration therapies.