mitochondrial DNA and aging
Last reviewed 01/2018
Accumulated oxidative damage to mitochondrial DNA may result in significant impairment in the ability of critical tissues to generate ATP by oxidative phosphorylation.
Impaired ATP production may account for the increasing incidence of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases with increasing age.
The aging process may be linked to progressive mitochondrial DNA damage.