Key Takeaways & Executive Findings
- •• Global research on gut microbiota in the elderly has steadily increased from 2014 to 2023, indicating growing interest and interdisciplinary expansion. • COVID-19, oxidative stress, depression, and cognitive impairment are emerging research hotspots in the last two years. • Bibliometric tools VOSviewer and CiteSpace effectively reveal research trends, institutional collaborations, and keyword clusters in this field. • The field is still in a growth phase, with a need for deeper mechanistic studies and development of targeted interventions for age-related diseases.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: As the population ages, research on gut microbiota in the elderly is gaining attention. However, bibliometric analysis in this field is still lacking. OBJECTIVE: To comprehensively analyze literature on gut microbiota in older adults from multiple databases, identify current research hotspots, predict future trends, and provide potential directions for subsequent research. METHODS: CNKI was searched using the subject terms “gut microbiota in older adults,” “gut microecology in older adults,” and “intestinal flora in older adults.” The Web of Science database was searched using the search strategy of “TS=(elderly gut microbe OR elderly gut microbiome OR elderly gut microbiota OR elderly intestinal microbiome OR elderly intestinal microbiota).” Bibliometric tools VOSviewer and CiteSpace were employed to systematically analyze publication years, country distribution, research institutions, authors, and keywords in the retrieved literature. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A total of 250 and 604 eligible articles were obtained from the CNKI and Web of Science databases, respectively. From 2014 to 2023, the global publication volume in the field of gut microbiota in older adults showed a steady upward trend. Research interest and discussions in this field have increased significantly worldwide, with expanding depth and breadth through interdisciplinary collaboration. Notably, COVID-19, oxidative stress, depression, and cognitive impairment emerged as prominent keywords in the past 2 years. This bibliometric analysis visually demonstrated the research status and development trends in the field of gut microbiota in the elderly over the past decade. The field is currently in a rising phase, and further exploration of the mechanisms of gut microbiota and intervention strategies for related diseases is still needed.
1. Introduction
The human gut microbiota, composed of trillions of bacteria, archaea, fungi, and viruses, has co-evolved with the host in a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship [1]. As one of the body's 'hidden organs,' its relative abundance and diversity are closely linked to human health. Studies have shown that the stability of the gut microbiota is crucial for maintaining health, and its imbalance can trigger multiple metabolic diseases [2]. With advancing age, the composition and relative abundance of the gut microbiota undergo significant changes. The relative abundance of Bacteroides and Clostridium increases, while beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium significantly decrease, leading to reduced microbial diversity [3]. These changes may increase intestinal permeability, accelerating intestinal inflammation and metabolic disorders [4]. Furthermore, gut microbiota dysbiosis is closely associated with common aging-related conditions, including Alzheimer's disease, lipid metabolism abnormalities, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes. Therefore, maintaining the stability of the gut microbiota in the elderly is of great significance for preventing aging-related diseases and improving quality of life [5-7].
Bibliometrics is a discipline that applies mathematical and statistical methods to quantitatively analyze knowledge carriers. It covers aspects such as publication countries, research institutions, citation frequencies, author collaboration networks, and journal influence [8]. This technique aids researchers in visualizing information, clearly revealing the research status, focal topics, and future trends in a specific field [9]. Among its methods, cluster analysis is a statistical classification approach that groups closely related keywords into clusters, facilitating the identification of research themes and hotspots.
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Li Yiguang, Guo Haonan, Ding Xiaotao, Yuan Mengyao, Jiang Lijin, Fan Xinfeng, Feng Yan (2026). Visual analysis of research hotspots in the field of gut microbiota in the elderly at home and abroad. Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research. https://doi.org/10.12307/2026.21271
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main objective of this bibliometric analysis?
The main objective is to comprehensively analyze literature on gut microbiota in older adults from multiple databases, identify current research hotspots, predict future trends, and provide potential directions for subsequent research.
Which databases were searched and what were the search strategies?
CNKI was searched using subject terms like 'elderly gut microbiota' and 'elderly intestinal flora', while Web of Science was searched using the strategy 'TS=(elderly gut microbe OR elderly gut microbiome OR elderly gut microbiota OR elderly intestinal microbiome OR elderly intestinal microbiota)'.
What are the emerging research hotspots in the field of elderly gut microbiota?
In the last two years, COVID-19, oxidative stress, depression, and cognitive impairment have emerged as prominent keywords, indicating these are current research hotspots.
What tools were used for the bibliometric analysis?
The bibliometric tools VOSviewer and CiteSpace were employed to systematically analyze publication years, country distribution, research institutions, authors, and keywords.
What is the overall trend in publication volume from 2014 to 2023?
The global publication volume in the field of gut microbiota in older adults showed a steady upward trend from 2014 to 2023, indicating increasing research interest and activity.
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