Probiotics are often associated with digestive problems or with supporting the gut during antibiotic treatment.
Today, scientists are also investigating a broader question: could probiotics help support the gut microbiome as we age?
Why does ageing matter?
The gut microbiome changes throughout life.
These changes are influenced not only by age, but also by diet, medications, physical activity, health conditions and lifestyle.
Because the microbiome interacts with metabolism, immune function and the intestinal environment, maintaining its function has become an important area of healthy ageing research.
What have studies in older adults found?
Probiotics have been studied in people over 60 for their effects on the microbiome and different aspects of health.
Studies show that some probiotic interventions can change the abundance of particular microorganisms in the gut.
Effects on immune function have also been observed in some studies. Other possible effects, including those involving metabolism, cognition and general wellbeing, are still being investigated.
The results vary because studies use different probiotic strains, doses and treatment periods, and because people begin with different microbiomes and health profiles.
This is moving the field towards a more individual approach to supporting the microbiome throughout ageing.
