Mitochondria and Mitochondrial Function
The cellular power plants whose dysfunction accelerates ageing
Definition
Mitochondria are organelles present in nearly all human cells (except erythrocytes) responsible for producing the majority of cellular ATP through oxidative phosphorylation. A single muscle cell can contain up to 2,000 mitochondria. Their progressive dysfunction — decreased ATP production, increased free radical (ROS) output, and diminished mitochondrial biogenesis — is considered one of the central causes of cellular ageing.
Detailed explanation
Mitochondria have their own DNA (mtDNA), containing 37 genes, exclusively maternal inheritance, and lacking protective histones, which means it accumulates mutations 10–20 times faster than nuclear DNA. This accumulation of mtDNA mutations is a marker of mitochondrial ageing.
Mitochondrial biogenesis (formation of new mitochondria) is primarily regulated by PGC-1α, activated by high-intensity exercise, cold exposure, fasting, and resveratrol.
NAD+ is essential for mitochondrial function: it acts as an electron carrier in the respiratory chain (NADH) and as a substrate for mitochondrial sirtuins (SIRT3, SIRT4, SIRT5). The age-related decline in NAD+ directly compromises mitochondrial efficiency.
Treatments that improve mitochondrial function: NAD+ IV (restores NADH/NAD+), photobiomodulation (stimulates cytochrome c oxidase), HIIT exercise (activates PGC-1α), hyperbaric oxygen therapy (mitochondrial hyperoxygenation), and CoQ10 + PQQ (mitochondrial cofactors).
Related terms
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