The world population is agingAccording to the World Health Organization, the world's population is aging faster than in the past and people are living much longer. In 2022, the number of people aged 60 and older in the world was about 1.4 billion and is expected to reach 2.1 billion by 2050.
As aging increases worldwide, it is important to find new ways to combat age-related diseases such as cognitive decline, notes Dr.Claire Steves, Professor of Aging and Health and Head of the Department of Twin Studies and Genetic Epidemiology at King's College London and lead author of this study, told Medical News Today.
“This is leading to an increase in age-related diseases that significantly impact older people’s ability to continue to live independently,” continued Dr. Steves gone.“There is a lack of effective treatment options for many age-related diseases. Therefore, it is very important to focus our energy on this area. We need to delve deeper into these topics to expand our understanding of how we can prevent, slow and, where possible, even reverse the aging process,” he said.
Two prebiotic fiber supplements in this study, Drs. Steves and his team focus on two prebiotic supplements: inulin, a fiber, and plant carbohydrate fructooligosaccharides (FOS).“Research in recent years has shown that the bacteria in our gut, called the gut microbiome, are linked to our health and well-being.
Research has shown that there are connections between these bacteria and the brain, called gut-brain axes. It has also been shown to have links to other organs, including muscle health.“We wanted to find out whether improving the health of gut bacteria with a prebiotic could improve brain and muscle function,” explained Dr. Steve's.“We are aware that commercially available prebiotic supplements, such as inulin and FOS, are safe, reasonably priced, and linked to a healthy gut flora. Another study that looked at inulin and FOS in a population of people in nursing homes also had an impact on us. “They showed improvements in grip strength, fatigue levels and frequency of general frailty in people who received inulin and FOS supplements,” he continued.
Previous research has shown that inulin alters the gut microbiome, helps reduce neuroinflammation, and improves brain recovery after injury.Research on FOS has shown that the supplement may help reduce the development of Alzheimer's disease by reducing beta-amyloid in the brain, reducing neuroinflammation and improving memory.