MitoAction Hosts Podcast Presentation to Mark Global Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Week

In honor of Global Mitochondrial Awareness Week, which takes place Sept. 17-23, MitoAction will host a podcast presentation by Dr. Richard Frye on how gut microbiome modulates mitochondrial function.

Frye directs autism research at the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Research Institute in Little Rock. A pediatrician and neurologist, he specializes in child neurology and has done several  clinical studies on children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) including studies focusing on children with ASD and mitochondrial disease.

His presentation will focus how the gut microbiome influences health and disease states in humans; how its chemical mediators affect mitochondrial function and the human host; and how short chain fatty acids produced by gut bacteria can also be used as mitochondrial fuels, in addition to modulating mitochondrial function and cellular regulatory pathways.

Because the event will be held online via audio, MitoAction made special services available for the deaf or hearing-impaired; they can be requested here. The organization also suggests five ways to participate in Global Mitochondrial Awareness Week:

• Use social media – tell your story, share how you came to know about mitochondrial disease and post photos using the hashtags #Mito, #Iknowmito, #MitoAction and #MitoAware.
• Spread the word – share MitoAction’s press release with your local newspaper, get an awareness kit from MitoAction, hand out postcards or create a MitoAction bulletin board at school.
• Light a Light – send MitoAction a photo and remembrance message of a loved one you lost to mitochondrial disease.
• Go green for mito – green is the official mitochondrial disease awareness color. Use green lightbulbs in your outdoor lights, wear a green ribbon every day of Awareness Week or wear green clothes to show your support.
• Hold an event – you can set up a booth at a local mall or grocery store and hand out awareness materials, have an assembly at school or host a “Mito walk” or a 5k run.

On Sept. 20, MitoAction remembers those who have died from mitochondrial disease, and urges friends and family to “Light a Light” in their memory. Join the global event by sending your photos and memory wishes to MitoAction at [email protected].

Here is a list of other events taking place this week across the United States. Among them is the 8^th Annual Hope Flies Catch the Cure event in Atlanta. The event, set for Sept. 22 at 7 p.m., benefits the Foundation for Mitochondrial Medicine.