News

Loss of central vision in one eye is a hallmark of Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON), a mitochondrial disease. Now, an analysis of online literature highlights that other organs besides the eye may be compromised in LHON patients. The findings are reported in a study titled “Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy…

In female rats, hormone deprivation was shown to negatively impact the health and function of mitochondria located in the high-demanding brain region called hippocampus. The study “Hormone deprivation alters mitochondrial function and lipid profile in the hippocampus” was published in the Journal of Endocrinology. In females, reproductive senescence…

Cells obtained from people with mitochondrial disease can be used to test whether drugs already approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat other diseases could also be beneficial in treating mitochondrial disease. This highly personalized strategy uses a patient’s own cells to identify a potential drug that could treat their condition.

A low dose of the natural antioxidant resveratrol can improve mitochondrial function and induce cellular reprogramming, researcher say in a new study. Researchers believe the compound might be a treatment candidate for mitochondrial diseases. The study reporting the finding, “Low dose resveratrol ameliorates mitochondrial respiratory dysfunction and enhances cellular reprogramming,” was published…

NeuroVive will collaborate with the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and mitochondrial expert Marni J. Falk to evaluate experimental compounds the company is developing for the disease. NeuroVive is working on substances that are both delivery vehicles and treatments. The delivery-vehicle components get the treatments to the cells, where they activate…

Scientists described a method of measuring the function of mitochondria in human skeletal muscles without having to take a muscle biopsy.

Cara Koscinski is, by many measures, an exceptional woman. A pediatric occupational therapist, she’s also the author of numerous books on her specialty and on kids with special needs, a public speaker on these topics, a web publisher, and a homeschooling mom to her two own special-needs children: Joshua, 13,…

A new technique called in vitro gametogenesis (IVG) where any type of adult cell can be reprogramed to become an egg or sperm cell could in theory be used to prevent mitochondrial disease.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a Penn State Brandywine assistant professor of biology, Megan Povelones, a National Science Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) grant to support her study of mitochondrial structure and function. The five-year grant is one of the NSF’s most-sought early career development honors, given to teacher-researchers working…

The mitochondria of the donor egg should match that of the patient to increase the success of mitochondrial replacement therapy, according to a study published in the leading scientific journal Nature.