Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is the administration of a solution of fecal matter from a donor into the intestinal tract of a recipient in order to directly change the recipient’s gut microbial composition and confer a health benefit.
Dimitri this is an interesting question that I do not believe anyone has researched (in part for ethical and legal reasons). A lot of questions would need to be answered first - what is the diversity of the elderly person and the potential younger person - is the elderly person a risk from any of the hundreds of organisms in the donor - Would it really have any great effect - is there a specific pathological need in the older person - is there any research showing the loss of any part of the microbiota having a pathological affect on causing disease or aging? Many more questions need to be raised, and a lot of research to do to understand whether any benefit could actually occur. Or could there be harm to the older recipient?
I belive that no.
Only in the condition for indication of FMT such as svere intestinal infection, is need for this procedure.
Only FMT in indicated case can improve health of transplanted person of anyage.
Article Fecal microbiota transplantation: In perspective
Fecal microbiota transplantation: in perspective
Let me ask - why would it not be appropriate to use a fecal transplant (or poop pill) to help make the life of an older person better even if they do not have a serious disease to "fix?"
It is appropriate to use a fecal transplant (or poop pill) to help make the life of older people better. Probably, international pharmaceutical corporation - production probiotics a big business - should be unhappy. Poop peels contain stem cells which could be especially useful.
It does not resolve any special problem, because the microbiota can´t resolve all the health problems at all
Luis Rodrigo,
Probably, you are right.
However, many scientists having different opinion.
Anyway, probiotics already recommended for wide use among healthy people, without specific pathology or problems.
Luis - there are some definite things that microbes do, including some actions of metabolites on improving brain function and the overall affect of improving immune function. Both critical for the elderly. As we know there is nothing that helps resolve ALL health problems, but the improvement in the microbiome may do more than any other single thing.
Dimitri - could you please explain what you mean by 'stem cells' in poop peels (pills?). How could these survive in the poop pill after freeze drying? Wouldn't these cells be digested in the stomach?
I do appreciate the question, and hope we can get some specific details of how this microbiome may improve health and hopefully it will spur at least one researcher to do a study to improve our knowledge (whether positive or negative).
To: Robert John Wolff
Stem cells, fecal transplants show promise for Crohn's disease
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-04-stem-cells-fecal-transplants-crohn.html#:~:text=In%20one%20study%2C%20researchers%20found%20that%20a%20fecal,benefits%20for%20a%20serious%20Crohn%27s%20complication%20called%20fistula.
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