Fecal transplants reverse aging in brains of old mice
It’s still too soon to say whether the findings will translate to people, but if they do, we may have a relatively simple — if a little icky — way to turn back the clock on aging.
Fecal transplants: Your gut contains a unique mix of trillions of microbes, known as your microbiome. Not only do they help your body digest food, they’ve also been linked to everything from immune function to mental health.
If the balance of bacteria in your microbiome is thrown off, a bit of feces from the gut of someone with a healthy microbiome can help restore it. This can be delivered via a pill or a colonoscopy, and the procedure is called a “fecal transplant.”
In the past decade, fecal transplants have become a common way to treat C. difficile infections, but research suggests they might help treat other problems, including diabetes, malnutrition, and even cancer.
Can poo reverse aging? A ton of factors contribute to the composition of your gut microbiome, including your diet, environment, and stress level.
