Boosting gut health with good bacteria for a longer, healthier life
Strengthening gut barrier integrity with beneficial microbes to increase lifespan and healthspan
This work explores how beneficial gut bacteria might improve gut health to help us live longer and healthier, especially for conditions like Alzheimer's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University Medical Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11115589 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
As we age, changes in our gut bacteria and the gut's protective lining can lead to inflammation, which might speed up aging and contribute to diseases like Alzheimer's. This project aims to find specific helpful bacteria that can strengthen the gut barrier and reduce inflammation. Researchers are studying a particular gut bacterium, Parabacteroides distasonis, which has shown promise in mice and fruit flies. The goal is to understand how these bacteria work and if they can truly extend a healthy life by preventing age-related gut barrier dysfunction.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational work is not yet recruiting patients, but future studies might seek individuals interested in gut health, aging, or conditions like Alzheimer's disease.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment for existing conditions would not directly benefit from this early-stage biological work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to use beneficial gut bacteria to reduce inflammation, improve gut health, and potentially slow down aging and the progression of age-related diseases like Alzheimer's.
How similar studies have performed: While the specific bacterium Parabacteroides distasonis is being explored, the general concept of the gut microbiome's role in health and aging is an active area of research with growing evidence.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston University Medical Campus — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Crott, Jimmy W — Boston University Medical Campus
- Study coordinator: Crott, Jimmy W
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.