Better objective sleep quality is associated with higher gut microbiota richness in older adults.

Abstract in brief

• This study found that better objective sleep quality, measured through actigraphy, is linked to higher diversity of gut microbiota in healthy older Chinese adults, while subjective sleep quality did not show this connection.
• Certain gut bacteria, such as Bacteroidetes and Ruminococcus, were tentatively associated with sleep quality, suggesting specific microbes may influence or reflect sleep health in older adults.
• The findings highlight the importance of considering gut microbiota when addressing sleep issues in aging populations and suggest potential pathways for improving both gut health and sleep through targeted interventions.]