Aaron Hartman, MDFunctional Medicine Specialist | Clinical Researcher

Factors that Affect Aging: Mitochondrial Dysfunction

11 Oct 2023 · 0 min

Watch on YouTube

0:27

A short YouTube lecture by Aaron Hartman, MD explaining mitochondrial dysfunction as a central factor in aging and chronic disease. The speaker defines mitochondria as the cell's 'powerhouse,' describes how dysfunctional mitochondria can produce senescent cells that drive inflammation, and links severe mitochondrial uncoupling to cancer (electron transport chain uncoupling).

Mitochondrial dysfunction. The mitochondria are the powerhouse of your cells. They're like miniature nuclear reactors that take molecules and actually create heat, ATP, and energy for your body. This is where many chronic diseases lie. This is where cancer lies. When your mitochondria become dysfunctional, they can become senescent cells. And cells become senescent or they won't. They get stuck and they don't die, but they just create inflammation. Or a severe version of this could be a cancer cell where you have disconnect of the. It's called electron chain uncoupling.