Gut microbial signature for frailty discrimination: a metagenomic meta-analysis of 28 independent cohorts.
Exp GerontolJun 29, 2026 (epub)
Clinical ResearchGeriatrics
Chan-Young Kwon, Yung Hyun Choi, Hojun Kim et al.
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In 30 seconds
This meta-analysis examined gut microbial signatures associated with frailty in 955 individuals from 28 cohorts across 24 countries. The study identified 16 microbial biomarkers linked to frailty, with a significant decline in Shannon diversity observed during the transition from robust to pre-frail states (p = 0.0006). A Random Forest model achieved a mean area under the curve of 0.7572.
Key findings
- Shannon diversity significantly declined during the transition from robust to pre-frail states (p = 0.0006).
- Sixteen microbial biomarkers were identified, including Coprococcus eutactus and Enterococcus gallinarum.
- The Random Forest model achieved a corrected mean area under the curve of 0.7572 across five cohorts.
- Sensitivity analysis confirmed microbial shifts occurred independently of chronic clinical diagnoses (p = 0.036).
Why it matters
Understanding gut microbial signatures related to frailty can enhance geriatric assessments and potentially guide interventions. This non-invasive metric may help identify at-risk individuals earlier, improving management strategies in aging populations.