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MICROBIOME

Young microbiota rejuvenates the aging brain

The gut microbiota controls immunity and brain function, but its role in cognitive aging is unclear. Boehme et al. found that fecal microbiota transplantation from young into aged mice attenuated cognitive impairments and reversed differences in hippocampal metabolites, and some aspects of peripheral and brain immunity.

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Fig. 1: Fecal microbiota transplantation from yFMT to aged mice ameliorates aging-associated immune and neurocognitive impairments.

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Acknowledgements

The Diaz Heijtz Laboratory is supported by grants from the Swedish Research Council, the Swedish Brain Foundation, the Olle Engkvist Byggmästare Foundation, the Frimurare Barnhus and the European Community (SmartAge project). Work in the group of J.L. is supported by the Dutch MS Research Foundation and the Zabawas Foundation.

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Correspondence to Rochellys Diaz Heijtz.

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Heijtz, R.D., Gonzalez-Santana, A. & Laman, J.D. Young microbiota rejuvenates the aging brain. Nat Aging 1, 625–627 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43587-021-00100-z

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