Dr. Mahmoud Ghannoum, who helped coin the term “mycobiome,” is the director of the Center for Medical Mycology at Case Western Reserve University and chief science officer of Biohm Technologies. He explained that as people age, the gut lining changes, which allows more pathogenic bacteria and fungi to flourish, creating imbalances that affect digestive health and immune function as well as cognition through the gut-brain axis.
Through his work at Biohm Technologies, Dr. Ghannoum has helped develop a longevity-focused microbiome test that reveals age-related changes, including decreased beneficial organisms like Feaclibacterium prausnitzii and Coprococcus, which support anti-inflammatory responses and fiber breakdown for overall immune health. He also explained how beneficial fungi like Saccharomyces cerevisiae, commonly used in bread and beer making, play a crucial role in gut health.
Dr. Ghannoum added that biotics influence certain endpoints when it comes to aging, cognition and immunosenescence.
“If you have an effective probiotic, in general, what it does [is] it starts to secrete molecules called short-chain fatty acids […], and that will affect our immunity because as we get older, our immune system goes down,” he said. “Also, prebiotics for example, can support our bones, our muscles and our frailty. So all of these work together so that we have gradual aging instead of the aging that we are having now, where a lot of people have really chronic diseases.”
To keep gut health harmonious, Dr. Ghannoum recommends a wholesome diet rich in monounsaturated fatty acids, antioxidants and plant-based proteins while avoiding sugar-heavy foods that feed harmful fungi. He also emphasized plant-based diets with fish, vitamin D and calcium supplements, along with exercise and regular social interactions.
With over 50 years of experience studying fungi, the veteran researcher is exploring beneficial yeast species as alternatives to the heavily studied bacteria. He aims to leverage his extensive fungal expertise to develop innovative solutions for aging populations, emphasizing the importance of the microbiome in healthspan.
“We are really spending a lot of time trying to identify what other yeasts are important,” Dr. Ghannoum said. “I’ve been working in fungi, believe it or not, over 50 years[…]. We know a lot about fungus, so we are trying to capture this historical background to try to come out with new ways to balance our gut to help the aging population.”
To hear more on Dr. Ghannoum’s research and his prediction for the mycobiome in the longevity space, listen to the NutraCast above or on your preferred podcast platform.
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Join us at the Nutra HealthSpan Summit!
If the topic of the gut microbiome and longevity are of interest to you, the NutriHealthSpan Summit is just around the corner, taking place Nov. 12 and 13 in London. NutraIngredients will have a session on the microbiome and aging, where we’ll hear from experts on the cutting edge of this research and try to understand how the microbiome may offer a way to boost healthspan. For more information, visit NutraHealthspanSummit.com.
