Mitochondria and ageing: The Real Reason We Get Old
What if ageing wasn’t just about your DNA, but about tiny power plants inside your cells shutting down? As we often think ageing is inevitable for every human – bad bone health, wrinkles, joint pains. Some individual often try to look for ways to increase their longevity and try to make their ageing not visible. Is it possible for humans to completely stop ageing? Currently, the answer to that is not available. But scientists as it is in human nature to constantly look for ways to betterment are looking for ways to delay it and there are some ways that shows the potential to slow down or even reverse our ageing. We will look into some of these in this article.
What are mitochondria?
Our cells have tiny factories that are responsible for the generation of energy to carry out the majority of processes that take place in our body. They are called mitochondria also known as the powerhouse of the cell. They are involved with functions related to energy production, cell death and muscle contraction. The unique thing about mitochondria is the fact that it has its own DNA(mtDNA). Scientists believe mitochondria evolved from ancient bacteria that were once free-living but later formed a symbiotic relationship with our cells. Below is a video if u wanna learn more about the mighty mitochondria
How Mitochondria influence ageing
Remember the time when you bought your new phone the battery charged quickly and lasted a whole day. But after some 6 months or more, it’s not the same rather its at a lower speed. The same thing happens with mitochondria present in our body as time goes by the mitochondria also start to slow down. This is also the reason why we are very energetic in our teens and more tired in adulthood. As we age, mitochondrial function declines, leading to fatigue, slower metabolism, and increased cellular damage.
The mitochondrial free radical theory of ageing (MFRTA) has taken centre stage for several decades. According to this theory, Reactive Oxygen Species are considered to be unwanted and toxic. These highly reactive molecules can cause oxidative damage to proteins, lipids, and even mitochondrial DNA which leads to changes in mitochondrial structure and also the number of them in our body. This is one of the reasons why ageing is associated with fatigue, low energy, muscle loss and chronic disease.
Can we slow down Mitochondrial ageing?
Everyone loves to look young and live a pain-free lifestyle in their 40s or 50s. While we cant stop ageing completely; Here are some of the ways that show promising results when slowing down the speed of ageing.
- Diet: studies have shown that maintaining a balanced gut microbiome has a proven effect on microbial ageing
- Probiotics: they are beneficial bacteria that have proven health benefits when ingested. They are present in fermented foods
- Prebiotics: they can be referred to as the food for the bacteria present in our gut. Include foods like garlic, aspergillus, etc.
- Fiber-rich foods: Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, which provide fuel for beneficial microbes
- Lifestyle changes
- Studies have proven that individuals who regularly exercise and have adequate sleep show better gut microbiome composition which also helps with stress management through releasing neurotransmitters because of the gut-brain axis.
Conclusion
Mitochondria are more than just cellular power plants; they are central to how we age. As their function declines, so does our energy, metabolism, and overall health. But the good news is that we can take steps to slow this process—through diet, exercise, and lifestyle adjustments. While ageing is inevitable, how we age is something we can influence. With emerging research, who knows? The key to longevity might just lie within our cells
