Biologists have identified a mixture of bacteria and viruses that helps people live longer.

Biologists from Copenhagen studied 176 Japanese centenarians who reached the age of 100 years or more. All of them had a mixture of bacteria and viruses in their gastrointestinal tract. It is likely that the composition of the microbiome is one of the reasons why some people live longer than others. They are better protected from diseases associated with aging. These findings could be used to extend the lifespan of others by changing the microbiome to an optimal balance of viruses and bacteria.