Gut-brain axis in old age

As we age, the composition and function of the gut microbiome, the integrity of the intestinal barrier and systemic immune regulation change. These changes are closely linked to the concept of “inflammaging” – a chronic, low-grade inflammatory activation that affects several hallmarks of aging, including mitochondrial dysfunction, cell senescence and neuroinflammation. At the level of the gut-brain axis, data are accumulating that microbiome-associated mechanisms can modulate mood, stress processing, cognitive function and the risk of neurodegenerative diseases via immune, neuroendocrine and neuronal signaling pathways.