Psychological Health and Slowing Metabolism: The Role of Pre/Probiotics in Aging

The ageing process includes not only physical deterioration but also cognitive and psychological changes that have a substantial impact on metabolic health. Chronic stress, sadness, and poor sleep—all psychological factors—can disrupt the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, resulting in hormonal imbalances that slow metabolism and increase fat storage. These variables indirectly contribute to muscle loss, insulin resistance, and systemic inflammation. Exercise remains an effective technique for combating both psychological and metabolic decline. Furthermore, increasing evidence connects the gut-brain axis to psychological well-being and metabolic health. Prebiotics and probiotics, which modulate the gut flora, have been shown to improve mood, reduce stress-induced inflammation, and preserve metabolic balance. The relationship between metabolism and psychological well-being as people age is examined in this article, along with the ways in which interventions like exercise and gut microbiome modification can support a healthier ageing process.