Ageing is often accompanied by changes in the immune system.
One of them is inflammaging. This means persistent, low-grade inflammation associated with ageing.
The gut microbiome may be involved in this process.
How are the gut microbiome and inflammation connected?
Gut microorganisms interact closely with the immune system.
Some gut bacteria can support normal immune function. Others may promote inflammatory activity under certain conditions.
During unhealthy ageing, the balance between these bacterial groups may change. Beneficial commensal bacteria may decrease, while potentially pro-inflammatory bacteria may become more prominent.
This may affect immune signalling and contribute to chronic inflammation.
The intestinal barrier may also be important. Changes in gut function can increase contact between microbial products and the immune system.
Which comes first?
The relationship can work in both directions.
Changes in the gut microbiome may contribute to inflammation. Inflammation and changes in immune function can also alter the microbiome.
Disease, diet and medications may affect both.
This makes cause and effect difficult to separate. Current evidence does not show that changing the microbiome can prevent or reverse inflammaging in humans.
Understanding this relationship is important for healthy ageing. It may help explain how changes in the gut microbiome and immune system develop together as we age.
