Three Simple Methods to Boost Mitochondrial Quality and Quantity for Healthy Aging

Aging and many diseases may be due to mitochondrial dysfunction.

“To slow down aging even a little, it might be good to train your mitochondria.”

Says Koji Okamoto, associate professor at Osaka University’s Mitochondrial Dynamics Research Laboratory.

A study from Stanford University in the U.S. has garnered attention for stating that aging accelerates sharply at ages 44 and 60. It’s a common desire for everyone to want to delay aging and stay healthy for as long as possible.

But what exactly are “mitochondria”?

“Mitochondria are small organelles found within cells, and many eukaryotic organisms (organisms that have a nucleus within their cells, including all animals, plants, fungi, and many single-celled organisms) on Earth have mitochondria.

It is safe to say that many diseases, including aging, may be related to the decline in mitochondrial function.”

According to Associate Professor Okamoto, mitochondria average about 300 to 400 per cell, with some cells containing nearly 1,000, and their total weight can account for up to 10% of body weight.

“Mitochondria perform various functions, but their most important role is to produce ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which stores energy.

While mitochondria make up 10% of body weight, they produce ten times that amount of ATP in a day.”

Incredibly, this means that the equivalent of one’s body weight in ATP is produced every day. If that’s the case, wouldn’t body weight double?

“The ATP produced is immediately consumed. In other words, humans use that much energy.”

However, as we age, the ability of mitochondria to produce ATP declines. As a result, energy deficiency occurs, leading to an inability to maintain various cellular functions, such as nerve signal transmission and the elimination of unnecessary substances from the body.

Is the loss of concentration and insomnia, often associated with aging, due to this?

“That is one possibility. Those symptoms are related to brain function decline. Sleep is fundamentally controlled by the brain, so the inability to sleep can also be attributed to decreased brain function.”

If you start to notice signs of aging, it could be a sign that the function of your mitochondria is declining.

 

Maintain mitochondrial “quantity” and “quality” to create a cycle that does not rust.

So, what can be done to prevent energy deficiency?

“There are two methods. One is to increase the ‘quantity’ of mitochondria. The second is to enhance the ‘quality’ of mitochondria so that they can efficiently produce energy.”