Jena, May 30, 2026. Jena scientists have discovered a surprising reason why our gut flora changes with age and inflammation increases. It is not the microbes themselves that are the main problem, but the declining precision of the body’s own immune system.
- Topic: Connection between gut microbiome and aging process
- Participating institutions: Leibniz-Institut für Alternsforschung – Fritz-Lipmann-Institut (FLI), Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
- Publication: Specialist journal „PLoS Biology“ (May 2026)
- Key result: The aging of the gut flora is significantly caused by declining immune surveillance.
How the gut is linked to the aging process
Trillions of tiny subtenants live in our gut: bacteria, viruses, and fungi, which together form the so-called microbiome. These tiny helpers are extremely important for our digestion and keep us healthy. However, the older we get, the more often this sensitive ecosystem loses its balance. Previously, science often thought that the gut bacteria themselves simply changed negatively over the course of life and became more harmful. However, a Jena research group is now showing that the actual cause lies deeper.
The team from the Leibniz-Institut für Alternsforschung – Fritz-Lipmann-Institut (FLI) and the Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena found out that the immune system simply loses control in old age. In younger years, the body’s own defense works like a precise police force: it keeps harmful germs in check and protects the beneficial bacteria. If this active control function declines in the aging body, individual bacterial species take advantage of this. They multiply rapidly, displace healthy diversity, and trigger chronic inflammation.
These new findings could fundamentally change the development of therapies for healthy aging. Instead of just directly fighting the bacteria in the gut, future medical treatments could aim to specifically support the aging immune system so that it can better perform its protective function in the gut again.
Science City Jena: Top-level research on the Saale
The current study once again underlines Jena’s outstanding position as an internationally recognized science location. With the Friedrich-Schiller-Universität and renowned institutes such as the Fritz-Lipmann-Institut (FLI), the Thuringian university city attracts top researchers from all over the world. The close integration of basic biological research, aging research, and modern medicine enables local scientists to decode complex biological puzzles and develop innovative approaches for the medicine of tomorrow.
Source:
Growing old healthily: Jena researchers have discovered a solution in the gut
Transparency note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.