Faecal transplant makes the brains of old mice act young again
Key takeaways
- A faecal microbiome transplant (FMT) could make an aged brain as adaptable as a young one.
- Can prebiotics, probiotics or postbiotics help your ageing microbiome?
- Neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to remodel itself, means that conditions like amblyopia can be treated in children by temporarily covering their stronger eye.
Why this matters: new research or scientific developments with potential real-world impact.
Older mice that received a faecal microbiome transplant from younger animals went on to have improved brain plasticity, which meant their brains could overcome a neurological condition that is typically successfully treated only in childhood
Twitter / X icon Linkedin Reddit Email. A scanning electron micrograph of the intestinal lining of a mouse, with several bacteria (green) and one red blood cell (red)
CJC Copyright: IKELOS Gmb H/Dr. Christopher B. Jackson/Science Photo Library. A faecal microbiome transplant (FMT) could make an aged brain as adaptable as a young one. Our gut microbiome has been linked to our risk of depression and may even play a role in shaping our personality. But for the first time, a study has shown that older mice given the gut microbiomes of younger animals via an FMT experience improved brain plasticity. This meant they could overcome a condition similar to amblyopia, also known as lazy eye, which is typically only successfully treated in childhood.