Gut & Microbiome

Gut Microbiome Signatures Predict Frailty and Mortality Risk in Older Women

Researchers analyzed the gut microbiomes of over 2,000 Swedish women aged 75–80 and found strong links between microbial composition and frailty severity. Using a novel Frailty Mortality Index that integrates physical, physiological, and psychological measures, the team identified 404 bacterial species significantly associated with frailty risk. Lower microbial diversity and reduced gene richness correlated with worse physical function, higher mortality, and more fall-related injuries. Remarkably, most of these microbial associations were replicated in a separate Chinese cohort of nearly 1,500 older adults, suggesting these gut signatures may be universal markers of frailty across different populations and continents.