Author Archives: Margarida Azevedo, MSc

A team led by scientists from the King’s College London recently published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences the finding of a gene associated with mitochondrial signaling and nerve function, and which could potentially represent a treatment target for patients with neurodegenerative conditions…

New evidence suggests that mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) may significantly affect fertility and life expectancy, with important differences in male and female organisms. The study, led by PhD student Florencia Camus (School of Biological Sciences at Monash University) and entitled “Single Nucleotides in the mtDNA Sequence Modify Mitochondrial Molecular…

In a recent study sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, a team of scientists developed a new mouse model for Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON), a vision disorder that results from genetic mutations that damage the mitochondria, organelles responsible for producing the body’s energy. The research team determined that…

Research efforts behind finding better solutions to mitochondrial diseases are receiving a boost with the newly founded Foundation for Mitochondrial Medicine Program at University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). The program was formed by a collaborative partnership between The Foundation for Mitochondrial Medicine (FMM), the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and Seahorse…

A recently published study by a team of researchers at the Gladstone Institutes, titled “The Role of Mitochondrially Derived ATP in Synaptic Vesicle Recycling“, is the first piece of evidence detailing how abnormalities in cell mitochondria can significantly reduce cellular energy and lead to dysfunctional brain cells.

Researchers may have finally confirmed the widely-held theory that there is a correlation between drinking alcohol and a higher risk of developing mitochondrial disease. New insights reveal that chronic drinking causes damage to the mitochondria, and consequently the liver, due to the effects of alcohol on the liver’s circadian clock.

Summer is over and school is back in session — and so are homework, quizzes, and projects for students. For some children and their parents, however, these are the small things to worry about when returning to school. Children with chronic conditions such as mitochondrial diseases often need to take extra…

Results from a recent study published in the journal EBioMedicine showed that altered mitochondrial DNA changes precede bioenergetic dysfunction and that patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN) have impaired mitochondrial metabolism compared to kidney disease. The results indicate that systemic mitochondrial dysfunction initiated by glucose induced altered…

MitoAction Energy Walk & 5K, a well-established annual charity event within the mitochondrial disease community, will take place this year on Saturday, September 12. The event is designed to help raise awareness and funding to support patients who suffer from mitochondrial diseases. In addition to a 5K walk, the event meant to be a…

Irving, Texas-based Reata Pharmaceuticals has just announced the enrollment of the first patient in the company’s Phase II MOTOR clinical trial. This study will seek to determine the safety, tolerability and efficacy of Reata’s experimental RTA 408 Oral Capsules as a potential treatment for mitochondrial myopathies (MM). RTA-408 works to improve mitochondrial…