Protein plaques in the brain may be caused by mitochondrial dysfunction
Sebastian Kaulitzky/Alamy
If you own a car, you will notice that your engine becomes less efficient over time. The more you drive, the more fuel you need to make the same journey. Eventually it lacks enough power to require a physical push to climb rolling hills.
It is now becoming clear that the same is true for the human brain. Microscopic structures called mitochondria found in all brain cells are literally the engines of our thoughts and emotions. It becomes increasingly difficult to generate energy. Worse, just like an old car leaves a cloud of smoke behind, cellular power plants start producing unwanted waste products that slowly It pollutes our brains. means.
According to this “grand unified theory” of neurodegeneration, we can extend the healthy functioning of the brain by recharging neurons through the restoration of neuronal powerhouses. This idea has already inspired some exciting new treatments for age-related brain conditions, with multiple drug candidates under investigation. Some researchers are exploring the possibility of transplanting healthy mitochondria into damaged aging brains to rejuvenate them. Soto said, “If you keep changing parts of your car, it could last forever.” So what if we try to do this…
