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Young Fecal Transplants Rejuvenate Aged Mice

Published on: Jun 03, 2025

There may not be a magic pill for staying young—but according to a new study from the University of Connecticut, there could be a medicinal “poo.” Published in mSystems on May 30, the research reveals that fecal transplants from young mice can reduce signs of aging in older mice.

The concept of drawing youth from the young to rejuvenate the elderly is nothing new in science fiction—and some real-world studies have shown that young blood can improve health in older mice. However, translating those findings to humans has proven challenging.

Now, researchers Yanjiao Zhou, a microbiome expert, and Ming Xu, an aging specialist at UConn School of Medicine, have discovered another promising approach. By transferring gut microbiota from young mice to older ones, they observed that the older mice began to exhibit signs of rejuvenation—albeit temporarily.

The gut microbiome, a complex community of microorganisms in the digestive tract, plays a key role in overall health. In this study, 18-month-old mice (comparable to 60–65-year-old humans) were given fecal transplants from 6- to 8-week-old donor mice. The treatment continued twice weekly for two months.

Results showed that the treated older mice experienced reduced anxiety-like behavior, lower inflammation, better mitochondrial function (meaning their cells used energy more efficiently), stronger grip, improved metabolism, weight loss, and more youthful behavior overall. The benefits appeared to last as long as the transplants continued. It’s still unclear whether the effects would persist in older mice or over a longer timeframe.

The research team is now focused on identifying the specific gut bacteria responsible for these rejuvenating effects. Their ultimate goal: to develop a probiotic that could potentially help older adults experience similar benefits.

Source: https://today.uconn.edu/2025/06/young-dung-reinvigorates-old-mice/

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