Examining the gut microbiota in aging
type: CreativeWork
description: The human gut microbiome, comprised primarily of bacteria, plays a crucial role in overall health and physiology by regulating metabolism, immunity, and behavior through the microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA). Key functions include fermenting complex carbohydrates into short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that maintain gut integrity, modulating inflammation, and influencing energy homeostasis (i.e., food intake regulation). For example, SCFAs can play a role in food intake regulation by directly or indirectly influencing episodic appetite signals (ghrelin, glucagon-like peptide 1 [GLP-1]) and tonic appetite signals (leptin, insulin). Gut dysbiosis, or an imbalance in the gut microbiome, leads to altered metabolic processes, increased epithelial permeability, and systemic inflammation that contribute to health issues like metabolic dysfunction (type 2 diabetes [T2D]), cardiovascular disease, and neuropsychiatric conditions. Aging is associated with gut dysbiosis, which can affect energy homeostasis and increase the risk for age-associated comorbidities. Regular physical activity has been shown to improve gut health and food intake regulation in young adults. This project aimed to characterize gut microbial communities in active older adults (60 years +) (GUMS) compared to a sedentary cohort with type 2 diabetes (T2D) (DMP) and investigate how gut bacteria may be influenced by physical activity/cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), body composition, appetite hormones, cardiometabolic health, and mental health. Data was analyzed from n=22 GUMS (active older adults) and n=6 DMP (sedentary older adults with T2D). Gut bacterial diversity and composition were assessed by sequencing of 16S amplicon DNA from participant stool samples. In-person data was collected to assess CRF (via peak oxygen consumption [VO2peak] test), body composition (via air displacement plethysmography), appetite hormones (from plasma blood samples), and cardiovascular health (blood pressure, arterial stiffness).…
abstract: The human gut microbiome, comprised primarily of bacteria, plays a crucial role in overall health and physiology by regulating metabolism, immunity, and behavior through the microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA). Key functions include fermenting complex carbohydrates into short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that maintain gut integrity, modulating inflammation, and influencing energy homeostasis (i.e., food intake regulation). For example, SCFAs can play a role in food intake regulation by directly or indirectly influencing episodic appetite signals (ghrelin, glucagon-like peptide 1 [GLP-1]) and tonic appetite signals (leptin, insulin). Gut dysbiosis, or an imbalance in the gut microbiome, leads to altered metabolic processes, increased epithelial permeability, and systemic inflammation that contribute to health issues like metabolic dysfunction (type 2 diabetes [T2D]), cardiovascular disease, and neuropsychiatric conditions. Aging is associated with gut dysbiosis, which can affect energy homeostasis and increase the risk for age-associated comorbidities. Regular physical activity has been shown to improve gut health and food intake regulation in young adults. This project aimed to characterize gut microbial communities in active older adults (60 years +) (GUMS) compared to a sedentary cohort with type 2 diabetes (T2D) (DMP) and investigate how gut bacteria may be influenced by physical activity/cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), body composition, appetite hormones, cardiometabolic health, and mental health. Data was analyzed from n=22 GUMS (active older adults) and n=6 DMP (sedentary older adults with T2D). Gut bacterial diversity and composition were assessed by sequencing of 16S amplicon DNA from participant stool samples. In-person data was collected to assess CRF (via peak oxygen consumption [VO2peak] test), body composition (via air displacement plethysmography), appetite hormones (from plasma blood samples), and cardiovascular health (blood pressure, arterial stiffness).…
author: Verma, Priya
language: en
date published: 2024-07
date modified: 2026-07-24T04:03:36Z
provider: University of Regina
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: https://hdl.handle.net/10294/16545

PropertyValue
property ID: DOI
value: 10.82465/4268