Mitochondrial Dysfunction are chronic (long-term), genetic, often inherited disorders that happens when mitochondria fail to produce sufficient energy for the body to function properly (inherited means that the disorder was passed on from one parent to children). Mitochondrial diseases can be present at birth; however, it can also happen at any age.
Mitochondrial diseases can affect almost any part of the body, this includes the brain cells, nerves, muscles, kidneys, heart, liver, eyes, ears or pancreas.
Furthermore, mitochondrial dysfunction can happen when the mitochondria don’t work as well as they should due to another disease or condition. A lot of these conditions can lead to secondary mitochondrial dysfunction and affect other diseases, this includes Alzheimer’s disease, muscular dystrophy, Lou Gehrig’s disease, diabetes as well as cancer. People with secondary mitochondrial dysfunction don’t have primary genetic mitochondrial dysfunction don’t need to be concerned about the ongoing development or worsening of symptoms.
