Low-protein diet in aged female mice: gut microbiome, glucose and memory
In an abstract, 16-month-old female mice fed a low-protein diet for 26 weeks showed better glucose regulation, shifts in gut bacteria and better memory at 22 months than normal-protein controls. This is mouse evidence, not a human lifespan benefit. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Animal study (abstract)
- Population / context
- Female mice aged 16 months at diet assignment
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Publication status
- Preprint · peer-review status not confirmed
- Original publication
- July 3, 2026
Aged female mice on low versus normal protein
The abstract describes female mice assigned at 16 months of age to either a normal-protein (NP) or low-protein (LP) diet for 26 weeks. The authors note that earlier work from their laboratory found dietary protein restriction raised fibroblast growth factor 21, improved metabolic health and extended lifespan in male mice, but effects on the gut microbiome and health in aged female mice were poorly understood.
Supporting source [1]
Better glucose control and memory in LP-fed females
Metabolic assessments included food intake, fasting glucose and glucose tolerance testing. The low-protein diet significantly improved metabolic health in aged female mice, shown by improved glucose regulation. LP-fed females also displayed improved memory performance at 22 months of age compared with age-matched NP-fed controls.
Supporting source [1]
Microbiome shifts and proposed mediator role
Microbiome analyses found increased abundance of Akkermansia at 17 months and Faecalibaculum at 22 months in LP-fed animals. Functional profiling and gene set enrichment analyses indicated enrichment of microbial pathways linked to membrane integrity and metal ion binding. The authors conclude that protein restriction remodels the gut microbiome and improves metabolic and cognitive health in aged female mice, and suggest the microbiome may mediate these effects; this is a proposed role, not a demonstrated cause.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
This is an abstract; the full text was not reviewed. Findings come from female mice only, with no human data, and the abstract does not report sample sizes, effect sizes or statistical uncertainty. The suggested microbiome role is a proposed mechanism, not an established cause, and no lifespan effect in females is reported.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Vaddi P, Lugo JG, Young KE, Batamack Y, Donkor M, Artison A, Christensen A, Pike CJ, Hill CM. · europepmc.org · July 3, 2026