Gut Microbiome Changes with Aging in People With and Without HIV
Overview
This study analyzed gut microbiome profiles from over 2,000 women and 1,000 men with and without HIV, revealing consistent age-related increases in microbiome diversity and uniqueness. Specific bacterial genera such as Akkermansia and Streptococcus increased with age, while Prevotella and Faecalibacterium decreased, with some taxa linked to frailty and mortality risk.
Background
People with HIV (PWH) experience higher rates of aging-related comorbidities compared to those without HIV (PWOH). The gut microbiome influences metabolism, immunity, and inflammation, and its composition changes with age. Prior studies have shown altered microbiomes in PWH, but the relationship between aging and gut microbiota in this population remains underexplored. The MACS/WIHS Combined Cohort Study (MWCCS) provides a unique opportunity to investigate these associations longitudinally in both sexes and HIV statuses.
Data Highlights
Characteristic
Women (n=1409)
Men (n=990)
Samples analyzed
2304
1008
HIV positive (%)
69%
54%
Age-related microbiome score
Increased with age
Increased with age
Microbiome diversity and uniqueness
Increased with age
Increased with age
Key Findings
Older age correlates with greater gut microbiome diversity and uniqueness in both sexes, regardless of HIV status.
Abundance of Akkermansia and Streptococcus genera increases with age, while Prevotella and Faecalibacterium decrease.
An aging-related microbiome score based on 18 genera rises with age independently of demographic, behavioral, and cardiometabolic factors.
Age-microbiome associations are stronger in men without HIV compared to men with HIV; associations are similar in women regardless of HIV status.
Faecalibacterium abundance is associated with reduced frailty, whereas Streptococcus abundance correlates with higher mortality risk (VACS index).
Clinical Implications
Monitoring gut microbiome changes may provide insights into aging-related health declines in both PWH and PWOH. Targeting specific microbial taxa such as Faecalibacterium could potentially mitigate frailty, while managing Streptococcus abundance might influence mortality risk. These findings support integrating microbiome assessments into comprehensive care strategies for aging populations with and without HIV.
Conclusion
Age is consistently associated with distinct changes in the gut microbiome across sexes and HIV statuses, with certain microbial taxa linked to healthy or unhealthy aging phenotypes. Understanding these relationships may inform interventions to promote healthy aging in PWH and PWOH.
References
MACS/WIHS Combined Cohort Study (MWCCS) -- Gut Microbiome and Aging in HIV
by Brandilyn A Peters, Xiaonan Xue, David B Hanna, Yi Wang, Zheng Wang, Anjali Sharma, Michelle Floris-Moore, Deborah Konkle-Parker, Maria L Alcaide, Anandi N Sheth, Elizabeth F Topper, Kathleen M Weber, Phyllis C Tien, Daniel Merenstein, Elizabeth Vásquez, Yue Chen, Matthew J Mimiaga, Valentina Stosor, Todd T Brown, Kristine M Erlandson, Stephanie M Dillon, Noha S Elsayed, Mykhaylo Usyk, Christopher C Sollecito, Robert C Kaplan, Robert D Burk, Qibin Qi
