Aging Increases Markers of Inflammation and Alters Brain‐Gut Interactions

Abstract

Aging is the perhaps the greatest risk factor for the development of numerous health concerns, namely, neurological disorders such as Alzeimer's Disease (AD). Age is generally defined as the collection of deleterious changes to cells and tissues over time that increases one's risk of disease. These changes include increased inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and decreased immune function. Further, certain variations in gut microbiota have been implicated in the development of obesity, inflammation, and recently, neurological disease. We hypothesize that alterations of the gut microbiome from age may cause dysregulated brain‐gut communication, promoting inflammation and ultimately, neurological disease. Thus, the objective of this study was to examine the influence of the aging process on the brain‐gut axis and how these collectively affect overall neurological function. We used a multi‐disciplinary approach to address brain‐gut interaction in reflection on brain physiology and cognitive function, including neuroimaging, 16s genomic sequencing of the gut microbiome, cognitive and behavioral testing, and brain metabolomic assessment. In agreement with the hypothesis, our preliminary data indicate deleterious modifications of the gut microbiota, decreased cerebral blood flow, distorted cognitive function, and amplified markers of inflammation in old mice compared to that of young mice. Support or Funding Information This research was supported by NIH grant K01AG040164