Summary
This narrative review examines the intestinal barrier—comprising microbiota, mucus layer, and epithelial/immune cells—as a critical mediator of age-related disease risk and longevity. The authors synthesise evidence that physiological ageing involves substantial changes in barrier function, microbial composition, and cellular junction integrity, and argue that these changes partially drive inflammaging. The review suggests that targeted interventions to restore barrier function may serve as preventive strategies for healthy ageing.
UK applicability
The mechanistic insights on intestinal barrier dysfunction in ageing are broadly applicable to UK populations and ageing policy. However, the review does not address UK-specific dietary patterns, food systems, or healthcare delivery contexts that might modify barrier health outcomes.
Key measures
Intestinal barrier integrity (epithelial tight junctions, cellular composition); microbial diversity and composition; mucus layer function; immune cell characteristics; inflammaging biomarkers (implied)
Outcomes reported
This narrative review examined age-related changes in intestinal barrier structure and function, including shifts in microbial composition, epithelial tight junctions, mucus layer integrity, and immune cell populations. The review synthesised evidence on how these barrier changes contribute to inflammaging and longevity, drawing on studies of centenarians and ageing cohorts.
Topic tags
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