Fecal microbiota transplantation: A new strategy to delay aging

The gut microbiota, the community of gut microorganisms that inhabit the gastrointestinal tract, plays a crucial role in modulating host immunity, metabolism, and neurological health, thereby influencing the entire organism. Aging is associated with changes in gut microbiota composition and functionality, often resulting in dysbiosis, an imbalance of gut microbiota and an aging hallmark. Recent studies have suggested that fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), the transfer of fecal material containing beneficial microbes from a healthy donor to a recipient with a disturbed microbiota, may restore the balance of host gut microbiota and ameliorate some aging-associated impairments in diverse organs. In particular, FMT from young donors has shown more beneficial effects than FMT from aged donors. In this paper, we review recent advances in FMT for its effects on aging and discuss the potential mechanisms and challenges of this novel intervention, highlighting its potential to improve health outcomes in the aging population.