# Developing the Common Marmoset as a Translational Geroscience Model to Study the Microbiome and Healthy Aging

## TL;DR

This paper explores using marmosets as a model to study how gut microbiome changes with age and how fecal microbiota transplantation might support healthy aging.

## Contribution

The paper proposes a translational geroscience model using marmosets to study microbiome interventions for healthy aging.

## Key findings

- Marmosets are a suitable model for studying aging-related microbiome changes due to their human-like traits.
- FMT is safe in marmosets and may help restore gut microbiome function.
- A detailed FMT protocol for aging marmosets is proposed based on prior research.

## Abstract

Emerging data support associations between the depletion of the healthy gut microbiome and aging-related physiological decline and disease. In humans, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been used successfully to restore gut microbiome structure and function and to treat C. difficile infections, but its application to healthy aging has been scarcely investigated. The marmoset is an excellent model for evaluating microbiome-mediated changes with age and interventional treatments due to their relatively shorter lifespan and many social, behavioral, and physiological functions that mimic human aging. Prior work indicates that FMT is safe in marmosets and may successfully mediate gut microbiome function and host health. This narrative review (1) provides an overview of the rationale for FMT to support healthy aging using the marmoset as a translational geroscience model, (2) summarizes the prior use of FMT in marmosets, (3) outlines a protocol synthesized from prior literature for studying FMT in aging marmosets, and (4) describes limitations, knowledge gaps, and future research needs in this field.