Gut microbiota development across the lifespan: Disease links and health-promoting interventions

Abstract

The gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in human life and undergoes dynamic changes throughout the human lifespan, from infancy to old age. During our life, the gut microbiota influences health and disease across life stages. This review summarizes the discussions and presentations from the symposium "Gut microbiota development from infancy to old age" held in collaboration with the Journal of Internal Medicine. In early infancy, microbial colonization is shaped by factors such as mode of delivery, antibiotic exposure, and milk-feeding practices, laying the foundation for subsequent increased microbial diversity and maturation. Throughout childhood and adolescence, microbial maturation continues, influencing immune development and metabolic health. In adulthood, the gut microbiota reaches a relatively stable state, influenced by genetics, diet, and lifestyle. Notably, disruptions in gut microbiota composition have been implicated in various inflammatory diseases-including inflammatory bowel disease, Type 1 diabetes, and allergies. Furthermore, emerging evidence suggests a connection between gut dysbiosis and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. Understanding the role of the gut microbiota in disease pathogenesis across life stages provides insights into potential therapeutic interventions. Probiotics, prebiotics, and dietary modifications, as well as fecal microbiota transplantation, are being explored as promising strategies to promote a healthy gut microbiota and mitigate disease risks. This review focuses on the gut microbiota's role in infancy, adulthood, and aging, addressing its development, stability, and alterations linked to health and disease across these critical life stages. It outlines future research directions aimed at optimizing the gut microbiota composition to improve health.

Keywords: adulthood; aging; gut microbiota; infancy; inflammatory diseases; intervention.

Fig. 1

Schematic illustration of the development of the gut microbiota from infancy to old age, including factors influencing the composition of the gut microbiota at different life stages. The top panel shows how four of the dominant bacterial genera, that is, Bifidobacterium, Enterobacter, Faecalibacterium, and Bacteroides, in the human gut microbiota vary in abundance through the different stages of life. The second top panel illustrates the complexity and stability of the gut microbiota through life, whereas the lower panel lists factors known to influence the development of the gut microbiota. Source: Created with biorender.com.

Fig. 2

Overview of the variation in complexity and stability of the gut microbiota in relation to risk factors influencing the gut microbiota composition at different life stages. Throughout life, several risk factors are associated with a perturbed gut microbiota composition and potentially the development of several diseases. A reduction in the gut microbiota complexity and stability during infancy has, for example, been associated with the development of allergy and Type 1 diabetes. In adulthood and later life, a perturbation of the gut microbiota has been associated with the development of inflammatory disorders, such as inflammatory bowel disease, as well as the neurodegenerative disease Alzheimer's disease, mainly developing later in life. Source: Created with biorender.com.