From the moment we’re born, we’re surrounded by microbes that shape our development, especially our immune systems. In the last few years, scientists have become especially interested in these microbes, collectively called the microbiome, and their influence on a variety of diseases and conditions.

Here we talk to Assistant Professor Tara Cepon Robins from the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs about the microbiome and aging. We get into the microbiome's role in chronic inflammation and discuss how exposure to pathogens as a child can shape your immune system for the rest of life. And, can the location of your upbringing — whether it's an urban, rural, or suburban environment — affect the development of your body's immune defense mechanisms?

Read more about the Hygiene Hypothesis here.