Lower diversity and poorer function of gut bacteria linked to frailty in older women

Researchers at the University of Gothenburg have identified clear links between the composition of gut bacteria and frailty in older women.

In cases of high frailty, with an increased risk of illness and death, gut bacterial diversity is lower and function is impaired.

The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, is based on a population of 2,081 Swedish women ages 75–80.

The study demonstrates that frailty is linked to lower diversity and poorer functional capacity of the gut microbiota.

These results are largely confirmed by an independent Chinese cohort comprising 1,448 older men and women. ...