We’ve raised the connection before and now, with research described as a “tour de force,” researchers out of Ireland have found a correlation between the microbiome of your gastrointestinal tract and the aging of your brain. Published in the journal Nature Aging, this new study from University College Cork transplanted microbes from young mice into older mice, which then not only rejuvenated the immune system of the older mice but also seemed to cause changes in the hippocampus region of the older mice brains, causing their brains to resemble those of much younger mice.  In essence, this “poo transplant” was the first time scientists were able to show a correlation between transplanted microbes from younger mice leading to improved brain abilities in older mice. While it doesn’t mean we should all immediately go out and get fecal transplants to ward off cognitive aging, it does point to important areas of further research and it could be a ‘game changer’ in efforts to reverse age-related brain deterioration going forward.

This research also points to the value of a growing field of study looking at dietary and bacterial-based interventions to improve gut and immune health, along with potential brain protection. We know from another recent study published in the journal Cell that ingesting fermented foods such as yogurt or kimchi may increase the diversity of your gut microbiome and lead to lower levels of inflammation (and for more on the connection between food and inflammation, refer back to agebuzz blogger Daryl Moss’s recent post, Inflammation and Food: A Complicated Story). Fermented foods are apparently teeming with live microorganisms that can reduce the inflammatory compounds in your gut and lead to better health. For a comprehensive list of fermented foods and their health benefits, grab a menu from your favorite Japanese restaurant and click here. And for a comprehensive understanding of probiotics, often found these days in yogurts and other fermented foods, read here.

Overall these new research findings underscore our growing understanding of gut microbiome and the potential they play in multiple aspects of our health and well-being. In fact, there are some scientists who suggest that the gut should be considered on par with the brain when it comes to essential organs in our body. And thus, gut health should be seen as essential for healthy aging. For more on this research and why your next breakfast should include that non-fat Greek yogurt, get out your spoon and click here.