If we compare life expectancy in previous decades with the current one, we can almost certainly say that survival expectancy has increased considerably in the last decade.
According to the Statistical Overview of World Health (2019), between 2000 and 2016 , average life expectancy increased from 66 to 72 years worldwide. This index reflects not only the number of years but also the quality of health with which people reach old age.
There are many theories about how to prolong life , but there aren't any magic formulas; rather, it's about building certain habits. Thus, a recent study may hold the answer to the secret to longevity, and the key lies in our gut.
What is the secret to longevity?
The popular saying "we are what we eat" may be true, as one of the keys to reaching 100 years of life could lie in our intestines . And although it may sound strange, this has been confirmed by a team of biochemists from the University of Oviedo, Spain, after extensive research.
It is well known that bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microorganisms that inhabit the intestine play a very important role in the development of diseases such as diabetes and obesity, but they are also linked to longevity.
According to the research leaders, Carlos López Otín and Pedro Moral Quirós , maintaining a healthy gut flora could increase our life expectancy . This discovery, which has just been published in the journal Nature Medicine, has generated a great deal of excitement.
How did they discover the key to longevity?
To arrive at more objective results, the University of Oviedo team analyzed the intestinal flora of mice and patients with accelerated aging , a disease called Hutchinson-Gilford progeria (a very rare condition that affects 1 in every 4 million people).
In the process, the scientists noticed that both the rodents and the progeria patients showed a significant loss of intestinal bacterial mass , and they wanted to test whether this was detrimentally related to aging. And it definitely was.
A gut bacteria extends our life. What is it?
Through analysis, they were able to isolate a bacterium that lives in the intestines of centenarians called A. kermansia muciniphila. Furthermore, this bacterium was not found in people with progeria or premature aging.
During the five-year study, Akkermansia muciniphila was transplanted into the intestines of mice , and to the biochemists' astonishment, their aging process was reduced by 13%. López-Otín was thus able to reveal that the intestinal ecosystem significantly influences aging.
Of course, conducting these tests on people may take a little longer, as extensive research with laboratory animals is required before working with humans. But they don't deny that they may soon be able to transplant fecal matter containing bacteria into patients to test their performance.
In previous studies, the team had already shown that microbes in the digestive system are closely linked to age-related diseases , such as type 2 diabetes, some types of cancer, and cardiovascular disease.
Four keys to maintaining a healthy intestinal flora
What did you think of the scientific research at the University of Oviedo? Do you think the possibility of implanting fecal bacteria will be useful in prolonging the lives of both people with Progeria and those without any preexisting conditions?
First and foremost, the best recommendation every health professional gives us is to start raising awareness about nutrition throughout all stages of our lives and try to consume foods that help us maintain our body's balance.
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Here's some trivia so you can find out for yourself how healthy your diet is.
