A study three years ago came to the conclusion that less than ten percent of the lifespan is determined by genes; not 20 to 30 percent, which was previously the prevailing doctrine. Other popular explanations such as so-called longevity islands – i.e. places where a particularly large number of extremely old people live, e.g. B. Sardinia or Okinawa in Japan – are rather controversial in age research.
In the search for new answers to the great differences in life expectancy, the microbiome has recently become the focus of attention. It is becoming increasingly clear how important the countless bacteria in and on the human body – for example in the intestines, in the mouth and on the skin – are for disease protection and health. They could also play a major role in aging.
Special intestinal bacteria
As the researchers led by Yuko Sato from the Japanese Keio University write in their study, which has just been published in “Nature”, the state of health of older people depends, among other things, on changes in intestinal bacteria. The metabolism, bone health, immune defense and neurological functions are influenced by this. Yuko Sato’s group has now discovered a similar connection. She analyzed stool samples from Japanese women: 47 young people (21 to 55 years old), 112 older people (85 to 89 years old) and 160 people over the age of 100. Some types of bacteria were found more frequently in the intestines of those aged over 100 than in younger people.
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
