MIGHTY NIGHT
These tiny ‘power plants’ are now being connected to a host of health issues
A healthy sleep routine is one way to prevent factors that are a common thread in chronic diseases,
Our bodies are home to trillions of mitochondria, but science is just beginning to understand the role they may play in a variety of diseases.
These microscopic structures are like little power plants that use the air we breathe and food we eat to supply energy to our organs. They’re responsible for creating more than 90 per cent of the energy our bodies need to live.
But here’s the thing: mitochondrial diseases are rare, affecting only about 4,000 Canadians — however, they’re still the most common inherited metabolic disease. As our understanding of the role of these tiny power plants in cellular function grows, we are beginning to recognize that mitochondrial dysfunction has broad implications.
Mitochondrial dysfunction can affect several organ systems throughout our bodies like the brain, liver, kidneys, pancreas or muscles. The effects of these kinds of diseases can range from mild to severe. Thus, mi- tochondrial diseases can be difficult to diagnose since they can affect people in different ways. If three or more organ systems are involved in a health condition, it’s possible mitochondrial disease may be the culprit.
Interestingly, the brain is one of the most energetic organs in our body, thus quite vulnerable to mitochondrial dysfunction. In my lab, I research the role of dysfunctional mitochondria in mood and psychiatric disorders. Earlier in my career, I was part of a team that found people with bipolar disorder have high levels of oxidation in their blood DNA, lipids and proteins. We also established that this dysfunction was related to the condition itself, not the medication.
As we learn more about these kinds of diseases and how mitochondria work, it’s becoming clear these tiny structures play important roles in a variety of other conditions like heart disease, cancer and mental illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression.
The processes active in neurological diseases like Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (better known as ALS), Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease also involve mitochondrial dys- function.
Mitochondria even have a part in the aging process.
Antioxidants, which inhibit oxidation, may hold some promise. These substances help fight free radicals, which can damage our cells. When our antioxidants and free radicals are out of balance, the result is oxidative stress. We’re now trying to determine how it affects communication between our cells and how to treat it.
This emerging area of study is being pursued by scientists across the country working to understand how mitochondria are a common thread in many chronic diseases. We are the Canada Mitochondrial Network (mitoNET.ca), and we envision that within 10 years, clinicians in Canada — and the world — will assess mitochondrial health as part of routine care. I dream of the day when we can build novel therapeutics for specific mitochondrial defects in different organs and help to relieve the disease burden and deploy effective preventive medicine.
There are a few things we can all do to help support our own mitochondrial health. Despite how new this field of study is, much of the advice is simple and time-tested — live well and follow the same health rules your grandmother would have told you:
Eat healthfully: Fill your plate with fruits and vegetables of all colours of the rainbow.
Get enough sleep: Listen to your body and sleep when you’re tired. Maintain good sleep hygiene by closing your curtains and limiting screen time before bed.
Exercise: When we’re active, we help mitochondria multiply through a process called biogenesis. It’s important to tailor your plan to your individual needs and limits.
Be careful with supplements: Some supplements are thought to be good for our mitochondria. But there’s still not much information about what quantities can do more harm than good.
Ana Andreazza is an associate professor in the departments of pharmacology & toxicology and psychiatry at the University of Toronto’s faculty of medicine. She is also the scientific director of the Canada Mitochondrial Network — mitoNET (mitoNET.ca), a cross-Canada research network, and a collaborator scientist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. As well, Andreazza holds a Tier II Canada Research Chair in Molecular Pharmacology of Mood Disorders.