O PAPEL DO MICROBIOMA INTESTINAL NO ENVELHECIMENTO: IMPLICAÇÕES PARA O CUIDADO MULTIPROFISSIONAL À PESSOA IDOSA
O PAPEL DO MICROBIOMA INTESTINAL NO ENVELHECIMENTO: IMPLICAÇÕES PARA O CUIDADO MULTIPROFISSIONAL À PESSOA IDOSA
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.578132608057
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Palavras-chave: Microbioma intestinal. Envelhecimento. Pessoa idosa. Fragilidade. Cuidado multiprofissional.
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Keywords: Gut microbiome. Aging. Older adults. Frailty. Multidisciplinary care.
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Abstract: Population aging imposes new challenges on health systems, especially due to the higher frequency of frailty, multimorbidity, functional decline, polypharmacy, and nutritional vulnerability among older adults. In this context, the gut microbiome has gained prominence as a relevant biological component for understanding aging, as it participates in metabolic, immune, inflammatory, nutritional, and functional regulation. This article aims to analyze the role of the gut microbiome in the aging process and discuss its implications for multidisciplinary care for older adults. This is a narrative literature review based on national and international scientific publications, institutional documents, and references on older adult health, gut microbiome, chronic inflammation, frailty, multimorbidity, nutrition, medication use, and comprehensive care. The literature shows that aging may be associated with changes in the diversity, stability, and functionality of the gut microbiota, although these changes do not occur uniformly among all individuals. Restricted diets, low fiber intake, sedentary lifestyle, recurrent antibiotic use, polypharmacy, hospitalization, chronic diseases, and institutionalization may contribute to dysbiosis, reduction of short-chain fatty acid-producing microorganisms, and increased pro-inflammatory microbial profiles. These changes are related to mechanisms of low-grade chronic inflammation, impairment of the intestinal barrier, worsening nutritional status, sarcopenia, frailty, and functional decline. It is concluded that the gut microbiome should be understood as a complementary axis in older adult care, without biological reductionism or indiscriminate therapeutic promises. The multidisciplinary team plays an essential role in dietary assessment, medication review, encouragement of physical activity, prevention of avoidable hospitalizations, constipation management, health education, and construction of care plans centered on functionality, autonomy, and healthy aging.
- Leila Batista Ribeiro
- Alberto César da Silva Lopes
- Wanderlan Cabral Neves
- Alexandre Marco de Leon
- Elissandro Noronha dos Santos
- Joanna Lima Costa
- Marcus Vinicius Días de Oliveira
- Isabella Cristina Severina
- Tarcísio Souza Faria
- Caio César Medeiros da Silva
- Diogo Nogueira Batista
- Gláucia Oliveira Abreu Batista Meireles,
- Carlos Magno Oliveira da Silva
- Marcus Vinícius Ribeiro Ferreira