The secret to longevity is hidden in the mouth? The bacterium linked to slowing aging

A new study in Nature Aging has found a link between the oral bacterium Neisseria flavescens and slower biological aging. Researchers used artificial intelligence to analyze data and validated findings in experiments on worms and mice. However, a similar effect in humans has not yet been proven, and there is no medical recommendation to consume supplements.

A new study published in the journal Nature Aging has found a link between a bacterium called Neisseria flavescens, which naturally resides in the oral cavity, and slower biological aging. A team of researchers from Peking University in China developed a computational system called AURORA, which combines artificial intelligence with analysis of bacterial populations and blood substances, to identify microorganisms that may influence aging processes. Higher presence of the bacterium was correlated with slower aging metrics. In follow-up experiments on C. elegans worms, administering the live bacterium extended lifespan. In older mice that received heat-killed bacteria, changes were observed in gut bacterial composition, blood substances, and gene expression in the liver, approaching characteristics of younger animals. However, the study did not prove that the bacterium extends life in humans, and there is no medical recommendation to consume supplements. The researchers emphasize that further studies are needed to examine safety and efficacy.