How to Slow Aging, Part III
Our Mighty Mitochondria

Healthy Aging

Our cells’ powerhouses are rechargeable

For five weeks, we are covering the peer-reviewed Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism paper highlighting the most exciting avenues that scientists are pursuing to slow aging and help us enjoy more healthy years.

This week, let’s talk about repairing our mitochondria.

We all learned in 3rd grade that mitochondria are the powerhouses of our cells. Chances are, you don’t have quite the same energy you had when you were eight and climbing jungle gyms.

Alas, not only do our mitochondria power down with age, our loss of mitochondrial function is a key reason why we lose energy and break down as we get older.

‘All roads lead to mitochondria.’

In their paper titled “Aging – all roads lead to mitochondria”, Son & Lee summarize mounting evidence around why poorly functioning mitochondria cause our bodies and minds to age.

Beyond simply providing energy for our cells to function, mitochondria are also emerging as critical regulators of how our cells function. This includes helping our cells be more resilient against stress, like DNA damage and oxidation (see our Newsletters N-02 & N-03 on those topics).

When our mitochondria function well, our cells have superpowers against aging. When they don’t, our cells and bodies are rapidly overcome by stressors.

So, what if we could recharge our mitochondria and reverse aging?

You can! The good news is that mitochondria are readily reinvigorated with a good dose of routine exercise. Increased physical activity primes your mitochondrial pumps and gets them back up and running. While resistance training (aka weight training) appears to help increase the number and dynamics of mitochondria, endurance training (aka what gets your breath rate up and heart pumping) seems to help with mitochondria’s antioxidant capabilities.

In addition to good ol’ fashioned exercise, there have been many exciting scientific advancements of potential drugs that target mitochondrial function and protect us against aging-related breakdown. Stay tuned for more on this front!