Research team examines how a robust microbiome could be the secret to healthy aging

14 Mar 2022 --- UK-based Norwich Research Park will receive a portion of US$2.6 million in funding from the government to tackle healthy aging. The research center looks explicitly into the skin’s microbiome as key to aging well.

PersonalCareInsights speaks with Dr. Damon Bevan and Dr. Jelena Gavrilovic, co-founders of the Norwich Skin Platform of the University of East Anglia, and Professor Mark Webber, group leader from the Quadram Institute of Biosciences.

The researchers elaborate on how the microbiome increases a healthy lifespan and on the changing microbiome due to age. They also clarify the contradictory role of antiseptics on the microbiome and what people can do to maintain a healthy skin microbiome.

“Our new network, Skin Microbiome in Healthy Aging (SMiHA), is a multi-disciplinary UK research community whose goal is to identify how the interplay between the microbiome and underlying skin impacts on the aging process,” says Dr. Gavrilovic. 

The community comprises universities, industry and healthcare practitioners.

“We want to create a worldwide understanding of how skin bacteria influence aging,” adds Prof. Julie Thornton at the University of Bradford. 

“Recent studies have shown the skin microbiome could be a more accurate predictor of chronological age than the gut microbiome. Although the gut microbiome has been extensively researched and is known to impact aging, there is little knowledge on the role of the skin microbiome in aging.” 

“The new networks we’re funding will build UK-wide collaborations to understand the fundamentals of aging better, paving the way toward the development of novel interventions to prevent, halt or reverse aberrant aging,” expects Prof. John Iredale, interim executive chair of Medical Research Council (MRC).

Increasing healthy lifespan and the skin microbiome 
“How to keep people healthier as they live longer is one of the biggest challenges facing 21st-century medicine and our society,” shares Prof John. Some researchers believe that the skin microbiome holds the key in response to this challenge. 

“Under healthy day-to-day conditions, the skin microbiome exists on the outer surface of the skin where millions of bacteria form a tightly regulated population where they help to maintain healthy cell processes, e.g., skin pH,” explains Dr. Damon.  “Skin disorders occur from tiny infants to the very elderly, and 50% of the UK population suffer a skin microbiome associated complaint such as infant eczema or teenage acne each year,” says Prof Julie. 

“Throughout your life, a carefully balanced skin microbiome is the secret to healthy skin. This is achieved in part by communication between the microbiome and the body’s immune system, meaning the maintenance of both are important in producing a healthy aging skin environment.” 

Dr. Jelena adds that aging causes the composition of the microbes to alter, along with thinning and dry skin. 

“The very elderly can suffer from chronically infected wounds which are resistant to treatment. And the hormonal changes of menopause cause alterations in the skin and its microbiome.”

To concerns on aging skin, Dr. Damon clarifies and assures that: “the composition of the skin microbiome does alter as we age, but this is an important aspect of ‘healthy’ aging.” 

“Although there are differences between the skin microbiome of younger and older skin, it does not mean that you can simply put a young skin microbiome onto an older person’s skin and expect instant ‘young’ skin.”  

Dr. Damon justifies his stance, arguing that elderly skin has different characteristics with specific roles of the microbiome compared to younger skin. Additionally, youthful skin differs as it contains more moisture and does not experience too much water loss.

“The skin of an older person also tends to be thinner and less able to repair itself quickly, and the microbiome composition is required to reflect these characteristics,” he concludes. 

However, poor skin health and chronic skin conditions “limits independence in the elderly population and represents a high economic burden. Without good skin health, day-to-day living is compromised,” asserts Prof. Julie. 

Disease protection vs. microbiome health
“Our skin is home to millions of microbes, which are usually ‘friendly’ – protecting from infection by forming a shield against the invasion of disease-causing microbes into the body,” explains Dr. Jelena. 

Protective bacteria play a role in health. However, it can also cause diseases. 

Dr. Jelena adds: “To minimize infections in neonates, antiseptics are crucial, and we are studying how bacteria may be able to survive antiseptic exposure.” 

On the question of researching antiseptics that harm the balance of the skin microbiome, Professor Mark confirms: “under normal conditions, this can harm the skin’s functional efficiency.” 

He explains that the skin’s microbiome contains populations of bacteria called “opportunistic pathogens,” which take advantage of damages to the skin by causing disease and disrupting the balanced population by multiplying – resulting in possible immune deficiency. “The composition of the bacteria in the microbiome varies according to skin location and the different conditions experienced in these locations,” shares Dr. Damon.  

“We use antiseptics where the risk is high such as, in response to a cut or before surgery or an injection, to reduce the numbers of bacteria on the skin for a short period to reduce the risk of infection until the normal skin barrier can be returned,” he concludes. 

To help patients, Professor Mark explains the collaboration with the Norwich Skin Platform allows them to study “on real human skin,” making it easier to apply research findings to help patients. 

Sequential Bio by Sequential Skin also offers in-vivo microbiome testing and certification.

Maintaining a healthy skin microbiome
Optimizing a healthy skin microbiome requires further research.  

“Our research will inform and extend the basic principle that a healthy microbiome is the secret to healthy aging. By examining what aspects and components of the microbiome are fundamental to its role and if we can ‘super-charge’ the microbiome in later life to optimize these effects,” suggests Dr. Damon. 

“The simplest way to maintain this homeostasis is to interfere with it as little as possible. Whenever you add anything to your skin (e.g., soaps, creams and make-up), this will disrupt the balance and may affect the efficiency of its protection.” 

“To make greater progress, we need to transform how we conduct aging research – both by bringing together scientists from many disciplines with the public, clinicians, policymakers and industry,” adds Professor. John.

The research fund from the MRC provides an opportunity for collaborating across 11 new networks, says Quadram Institute. 

Led by the University of Bradford, the new Skin Microbiome in Healthy Aging network comprises the University of East Anglia, Queen Mary University of London, the University of Manchester and Liverpool.

By Venya Patel