Shu S, Woo BKP. Intersections of gastrointestinal dysbiosis of the gut microbiome and aging. World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol 2026; 17(3): 124717 [DOI: 10.4291/wjgp.124717]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Benjamin K P Woo, Full Professor, Chinese American Health Promotion Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center, 14445 Olive View Drive, Sylmar, CA 91104, United States. bkpwoo@gmail.com
Research Domain of This Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
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review-article
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Shu S, Woo BKP. Intersections of gastrointestinal dysbiosis of the gut microbiome and aging. World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol 2026; 17(3): 124717 [DOI: 10.4291/wjgp.124717]
World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol. Sep 22, 2026; 17(3): 124717 Published online Sep 22, 2026. doi: 10.4291/wjgp.124717
Intersections of gastrointestinal dysbiosis of the gut microbiome and aging
Sara Shu, Benjamin K P Woo
Sara Shu, Department of Family Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, United States
Benjamin K P Woo, Chinese American Health Promotion Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center, Sylmar, CA 91104, United States
Author contributions: Shu S and Woo BKP wrote and edited the manuscript; both authors conceptualized the research topic and submitted the revised manuscript with all the related documents; and all authors thoroughly reviewed and endorsed the final manuscript.
AI contribution statement: No part of the main text of the manuscript, including the Abstract, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, or Conclusion, was AI-generated.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Corresponding author: Benjamin K P Woo, Full Professor, Chinese American Health Promotion Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center, 14445 Olive View Drive, Sylmar, CA 91104, United States. bkpwoo@gmail.com
Received: June 23, 2026 Revised: July 22, 2026 Accepted: August 14, 2026 Published online: September 22, 2026 Processing time: 77 Days and 22.4 Hours
Abstract
Geriatric syndromes such as frailty and sarcopenia are multidomain indicators of functional status in relation to the chronic disease burden of an aging adult. The human microbiota has gained increasing spotlight in regulating key aspects inherent of aging. In this review, we survey the current literature exploring the pathophysiological intersections of the gut microbiome and the aging process and associated geriatric syndromes that ultimately influence health span and lifespan. We discuss how intrinsic and extrinsic factors can influence age-related gut dysbiosis and propose areas of future directions for further research for identifying therapeutic targets to promote healthy aging.
Core Tip: The gut microbiota changes with age and is influenced by a number of intrinsic and extrinsic factors whose mechanisms continue to be studied and elucidated. We discuss how dysbiosis of the gut microbiome can affect geriatric syndromes, and explore current and future applications of how promotion of a diverse and healthy gut microbiome can influence the health span of our aging population.
