A role for mitochondria in age-related disorders?
Article Abstract:
Damage to mitochondrial DNA may explain why the body declines with age. Mitochondria are parts of the cell that ultimately oxidize food to create energy. They contain their own DNA, which codes for the enzymes involved in oxidation. Consequently, mutations in mitochondrial DNA can reduce the amount of energy required by all cells. Cells can contain various amounts of normal mitochondrial DNA and mutated DNA and the amount of mutated DNA could increase as a person ages. This could explain the increased frequency of certain diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and heart disease in old age. Mutations in mitochondrial DNA can also be passed from mother to son or daughter. The mutation could build up over the generations, causing certain diseases to appear earlier in later generations. Food oxidation creates free radicals, which could be toxic to mitochondria.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1996
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New Studies Illuminate Brain Disorders
Article Abstract:
Researchers now believe narcolepsy is a disorder of non-REM sleep. Narcolepsy is characterized by daytime sleepiness and temporary paralysis. Research in dogs indicates it is caused by degeneration in brain areas responsible for inducing sleep. Drugs that mimic nicotine can improve memory in healthy rats and rats with brain damage similar to Alzheimer's disease in humans. The bacterium Chlamydia pneumoniae is found more frequently in the brains of Alzheimer's patients than in healthy brains. More research is needed to determine whether the bacterium damages the brain or if infection is a complication of Alzheimer's.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 1999
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Antibiotics Show Promise as Therapy for Genetic Disorders
Article Abstract:
The antibiotic gentamicin might someday be used to treat genetic disorders such as cystic fibrosis and muscular dystrophy. It belongs to a class of antibiotics called aminoglycosides, which can bind to ribosomes and allow the ribosome to move past a genetic defect.
Publication Name: JAMA, The Journal of the American Medical Association
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0098-7484
Year: 2001
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