While the decline in microbial diversity with age is well-documented [26, 27], our study extends this observation by linking specific taxonomic shifts to functional alterations in metabolic pathways (e.g., increased lipid metabolism genes), immune responses (elevated colonic IL-17A+ cells), and organ-level outcomes (post-MI ejection fraction and cardiac fibrosis), highlighting the systemic implications of age-associated dysbiosis. This evidence concerns the gene IL17A and myocardial infarction.