Gut bacteria tied to biological aging, new UH study finds

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Researchers at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa have found that certain gut bacteria are linked to how quickly the body ages, providing new insight into the connection between the gut, health and longevity.

The findings, published in Scientific Reports on July 14, found that differences in gut bacteria explained about 15% of the differences in how quickly participants' bodies were biologically aging. The work provides evidence that gut microbiome carries meaningful biological information related to how quickly the body ages at the molecular level.

"This study advances our understanding of the relationship between the gut microbiome and biological aging," said senior author Alika K. Maunakea of the UH Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine. "We found that microbial patterns in the gut were significantly associated with molecular measures of aging, even independent of chronological age. These findings open important new directions for understanding how modifiable biological systems influence long-term health trajectories and longevity."

Tracking the gut-body connection

The research analyzed stool and blood samples from 123 participants representing a broad adult age range. The team compared the types of bacteria found in participants' guts with biological markers in their blood that estimate how quickly their bodies are aging. Unlike chronological age, which measures the number of years a person has lived, biological aging biomarkers attempt to capture how rapidly the body is aging physiologically.

The investigators observed that gut microbial composition was specifically associated with DunedinPACE, a next-generation biomarker that estimates the pace of biological aging. Several types of bacteria demonstrated particularly strong associations with aging trajectories. Among the findings, Bifidobacterium adolescentis emerged as one of the strongest microbial signatures associated with slower biological aging, while Succinivibrio dextrinosolvens showed one of the strongest associations with accelerated aging.

Lead author Braden P. Kunihiro said the findings highlight the growing scientific importance of the gut microbiome in precision health research.

"The gut microbiome is highly responsive to lifestyle, diet, environment and other everyday exposures," Kunihiro said. "Our findings suggest that the microbiome may reflect important aspects of biological resilience and aging in ways that could eventually help inform future wellness and healthy aging strategies."

The study also included a group of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander participants, populations historically underrepresented in aging and microbiome research. Co-author Ruben Juarez noted that the work may help researchers better understand how environmental and social factors become biologically embedded over time.

"The microbiome exists at the intersection of behavior, environment and human biology," Juarez said. "Studies like this help illuminate potential pathways through which lived experiences and social factors influence long-term health outcomes."

The researchers emphasize that the study found a connection between gut bacteria and biological aging, but it does not prove that one causes the other. More research is needed to determine whether changing the gut microbiome can affect how the body ages.

"This is an important early step toward understanding the gut microbiome's relationship with healthy aging," Maunakea said. "Future research will help clarify the mechanisms involved and whether these microbial signatures may eventually contribute to precision approaches for promoting long-term health and wellness."

Link to soundbites (details below): https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/tmDWdEeyrP

Alika K. Maunakea, senior author and professor at the UH Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine

(0:19)

"This doesn't mean we've discovered the secret to slowing aging but it does give us an important clue about one biological system that may eventually be modifiable and that's exciting because unlike our genes, the microbiome changes throughout our lives in response to diet physical activity, medications, stress and the environment."

(0:18)

"So when we found that the gut microbiome alone, just by itself, explained about 15% of the variation in the pace of biological aging, that was actually quite remarkable. It tells us that the microbiome is not just the bystander, but it appears to be an important contributor to the biological processes associated with aging."

(0:10, possible SOT tease)

"Healthy aging isn't determined by our genes alone. Our environment, our lifestyle and even the trillions of microorganisms living in our gut all interact to influence how we age."

VOSOT SCRIPT:

INTRO:

Scientists at the University of Hawaiʻi have found a new clue about healthy aging-and it may be in your gut.

VO:

Gut microbiome is made up of trillions of bacteria and other tiny organisms that live in your digestive system.

Researchers found certain types of gut bacteria were linked to how fast the body ages.

In fact, the microbiome accounted for about 15 percent of the differences in biological aging among participants.

SOT:

Alika K. Maunakea, senior author and professor at the UH Mānoa John A. Burns School of Medicine

(0:19)

"This doesn't mean we've discovered the secret to slowing aging but it does give us an important clue about one biological system that may eventually be modifiable and that's exciting because unlike our genes, the microbiome changes throughout our lives in response to diet physical activity, medications, stress and the environment."

VO:

Researchers say the findings could help pave the way for new approaches to promoting healthy aging in the future.