A new study published in Nature Aging on August 25 reports that a single gut bacterium— Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum (BP)—together with a small molecule it produces, 5-aminovaleric acid betaine (5-AVAB)—can alleviate multiple hallmarks of aging and extend the healthy lifespan in mice, opening a promising avenue toward healthier aging in humans.
The study was led by Profs. ZHANG Weiqi and YANG Yungui at the China National Center for Bioinformation, a research center affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), in collaboration with Profs. LIU Guanghui and QU Jing at the Institute of Zoology, CAS, and Prof. ZHANG Feng at the Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University.
By analyzing Chinese aging cohorts, the researchers found that adults generally fall into two major gut microbiome patterns: one dominated by Bacteroides and the other by Prevotella . Among individuals with the Prevotella -dominant pattern, beneficial gut bacteria were lost more rapidly with age, while microbes carrying virulence factors and antibiotic-resistance genes steadily increased.
One bacterium stood out across all cohorts—BP. Its abundance declined sharply with age in both men and women, regardless of gut pattern. Using a newly developed “microbiome aging clock” called MicroAge, the researchers found that individuals carrying higher levels of BP tended to exhibit a younger biological age—a trend consistently validated across multiple routine clinical health indicators.
The researchers then investigated the molecular basis of BP’s beneficial effects. They traced its geroprotective activity to a single functional metabolite—5-AVAB—whose circulating levels also decline with age in humans. When aged mice were given 5-AVAB directly, their memory, motor coordination, and mood-related behaviors all improved. Furthermore, chronic low-grade inflammation in the liver, lungs, muscles, kidneys, heart, and spleen was significantly attenuated—effects consistent with those observed when the live BP bacterium itself was administered.
According to the researchers, these findings point to a simple yet powerful strategy for promoting healthy aging—replenishing the missing microbe or supplementing its key metabolite.
This study was supported by the Aging Biomarker Consortium (ABC) of China.
Nature Aging
A geroprotective probiotic and its functional metabolite counteract inflammaging to extend healthspan
25-Aug-2026