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Common Facts about Mitochondrial Dysfunction

How Do Mitochondria Become Dysfunctional?

When we age, there are some changes to mitochondria that affect the production of energy in the body. Also, this procedure might release harmful reactive oxygen, which could lead to DNA mutations harming proteostasis. Reactive oxygen elements can result in immune suppression and muscle weakness as well. In the elderly, mitochondria look quite different from younger people. They swell and the number drops, making it impossible for them to replace quickly to prevent the dysfunctional state.[3]

Causes of Mitochondrial Disfunction

In many cases, primary mitochondrial dysfunction is a genetic disorder that can be passed from parents to children. More specifically, children with this condition do not get a normal genetic pair from their parents. Instead, the gene is mutated, meaning it is changed or becomes defective. Some common types of genetic inheritance include:

– Random mutations: A mutation of genes might occur on its own without an inheritance from a parent.

– Autosomal recessive inheritance: This type occurs when a child receives a mutated copy of the gene from each parent. The likelihood that each child in this family inherits a mitochondrial dysfunction is 25 percent.

– Autosomal dominant inheritance: In this type, a child receives a mutated copy of the gene from one of the parents (from either parent). The likelihood that each child in this family inherits a mitochondrial dysfunction is 50 percent.

– Mitochondrial inheritance: this is a unique form of inheritance, mitochondria have their own DNA. Only mitochondrial conditions triggered by mutations occurring in the mitochondrial DNA can be exclusively passed from mothers. In this case, the likelihood that each child in this family inherits a mitochondrial dysfunction is 100 percent. [4]