Christensenella: Your ticket to longevity?
As the years march on and the candles on our birthday cakes multiply faster than we'd like, there's an inevitable shift in our priorities. Suddenly, it's all about counting the wrinkles or lamenting the occasional forgetfulness (where did I put those keys again?). In a world where age seems to have an unwritten contract with fine lines and creaky joints, there's a silent hero often overlooked in the quest for eternal youth: our gut! Believe it or not, the mysterious labyrinth of intestines, teeming with trillions of microscopic creatures, holds the key not just to digestion but also to the elusive fountain of youth!
A couple of years ago, scientists discovered a specific bacteria called Christensenella minuta that was significantly present in centenarians (people with a 100+ age!) compared to the younger population. This bacteria belongs to a family called Christensenellaceae which has been repeatedly described as the “microbial satellite” of health and leanness. Another scientific study has shown that individuals with a normal BMI have a higher percentage of this particular family of bacteria than obese individuals. And not only this, but when these obese individuals were put on a diet there was an increase of this bacterial family. It is also involved with healthy glucose metabolism and is found to be depleted in individuals with Crohn’s disease, Ulcerative Colitis and many other metabolic disorders. Interestingly, the presence of the Christensenellaceae family seems to be hardwired in the host, meaning that they are highly heritable.
There’s a lot that is currently being discovered about Christensenella, but it is already being considered as the next generation probiotic as it can also promote the growth of other beneficial bacteria in the gut. So, next time you're pondering the paradoxes of ageing, remember: your gut holds the key to staying sprightly longer than a bottle of youth serum!
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