IADR Abstract Archives
Oral Microbiota Alterations: Age-Based Implications for Disease Detection
Objectives: Based on the 2020 National Development Commission's data, Taiwan transitioned into an aging society in 2018, and is projected to become super-aged by 2025. The aging process typically follows a trajectory from health to sub-health, weakness, disability or dementia, serious illness leading to bedridden state, and ultimately death. Thus, early intervention during the stage of physical weakening can prevent or delay the onset of disability. Oral health is intrinsically linked with general health, and dysbiosis of the oral microbiota can contribute to both dental and systemic diseases. Consequently, there is a necessity for appropriate health screening tools or highly applicable medical technologies in community settings to facilitate early detection of disease risks. In the context of these realities, the aim of this study is to investigate the alteration in oral microbiota that occur during the aging process.
Methods: We employed next-generation sequencing (NGS) to delineate the oral bacterial composition and relative abundance in three distinct groups: 20 young adults, 20 healthy older individuals, and 20 long-term care patients with nasogastric tubes. Tongue samples were collected using swabs, and following DNA extraction, we characterized the microbial compositions, taxonomic classifications, and both alpha and beta diversity of these samples.
Results: The microbiota from the three groups exhibited distinct diversity and homogeneity, as well as unique bacterial species. Both the heatmap and principal component analysis (PCA) highlighted significant differences among the groups. Notably, the young adults' group demonstrated a higher abundance of taxa within the order Saccharimonadales, whereas genera such as Prevotella and Veillonella were more abundant in the healthy elderly group. Conversely, the group of patients utilizing nasogastric tubes showed an elevated abundance of bacteria within the genera Corynebacterium and Pseudomonas.
Conclusions: Differences in oral microbiota composition from youth to frailty highlight potential avenues for developing community-based screening tools and technologies for early disease detection and prevention.
Methods: We employed next-generation sequencing (NGS) to delineate the oral bacterial composition and relative abundance in three distinct groups: 20 young adults, 20 healthy older individuals, and 20 long-term care patients with nasogastric tubes. Tongue samples were collected using swabs, and following DNA extraction, we characterized the microbial compositions, taxonomic classifications, and both alpha and beta diversity of these samples.
Results: The microbiota from the three groups exhibited distinct diversity and homogeneity, as well as unique bacterial species. Both the heatmap and principal component analysis (PCA) highlighted significant differences among the groups. Notably, the young adults' group demonstrated a higher abundance of taxa within the order Saccharimonadales, whereas genera such as Prevotella and Veillonella were more abundant in the healthy elderly group. Conversely, the group of patients utilizing nasogastric tubes showed an elevated abundance of bacteria within the genera Corynebacterium and Pseudomonas.
Conclusions: Differences in oral microbiota composition from youth to frailty highlight potential avenues for developing community-based screening tools and technologies for early disease detection and prevention.