Why mitochondria matter As you might recall from your high school biology textbook, mitochondria are considered the powerhouses of the cell because of their role as energy suppliers, intercellular signalers, and metabolic coordinators.3 As such, theyre central to a biological process called apoptosis (cell death), which involves the disposal of damaged or abnormal cells.4 Also, apart from the nucleus, mitochondria are the only other parts of a human cell that carry DNA.5 Therefore, mitochondrial dysfunction is inextricably linked to health conditions stemming from cellular breakdown and chromosomal changes, both of which correlate with aging.6 7 Apart from primary mitochondrial diseases such as Leigh syndrome and MELAS syndrome, these health conditions include but arent limited to:8 9 10 Cancer Diabetes Heart disease Kidney diseases Neurodegenerative disorders (e.g., Alzheimers and Parkinsons) Hearing loss Eyesight abnormalities Oxidative stress Metabolic imbalance Inflammation Myalgic encephalomyelitis, or ME/CFS (potentially

Ehsan Sotoudeh, MD General Surgeon & Regenerative Medicine Expert Last medically reviewed: July 27, 2026 Understanding Autism Beyond Behavior: The Metabolic Perspective For many years autism was primarily described as a developmental or psychiatric disorder
Congenital vitamin B12 transport disorders
Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency Some of the symptoms that can be caused by a lack of vitamin B12 include: Poor appetite Anemia Fatigue Weakness Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet Difficulty with balance Vitamin B12 deficiency can also contribute to depression, cognitive impairment, and dementia