Multidimensional Physiological and Gut Microbiome Profiling Identifies Subtle Physiological Patterns in an Apparently Healthy Aging Indian Cohort: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study
Abstract
Aging is characterized by gradual shifts in cellular and physiological processes, even in individuals who remain apparently clinically healthy. These changes reflect a coordinated decline in metabolic efficiency, immune regulation, organ function, psychological resilience, and sleep integrity, domains increasingly recognized as interconnected determinants of apparently healthy aging. This study explored age- and sex-associated patterns in multidimensional physiological domains and gut microbiota features among 45 apparently healthy middle-aged and elderly participants across four age–sex groups (middle-aged males, n = 13; middle-aged females, n = 11; elderly males, n = 13; elderly females, n = 8). Comprehensive clinical, metabolic, inflammatory, hepato-renal, psychological, and sleep parameters were standardized into domain-specific Z-scores, which were integrated into a composite multidimensional physiological health index (MPHI), a systems-level physiological index developed as a proxy for physiological processes associated with mitochondrial function and apparently healthy aging rather than a direct measure of mitochondrial biology. Whole-metagenome sequencing and MetaPhlAn-based taxonomic profiling were used to characterize gut microbiota composition and diversity. Despite no statistically significant overall differences among the four age–sex groups in multivariate analysis (MANOVA, p = 0.103) and gut microbial community structure (PERMANOVA, p = 0.651), descriptive…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a cross-sectional, done in people. Its evidence level is 4 of 5 (Low · observational). Observational designs can show an association but not prove cause. Reported size: 13 participants or records.
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