All about mito

What is mitochondrial disease?

Here’s Bill Nighy to explain in a little more detail what mitochondrial disease is.

Mitochondrial diseases are rare genetic disorders. Our cells contain structures called mitochondria, often described as the ‘batteries’ of our cells, which create the energy needed for our bodies to function.

In people with mitochondrial disease, these ‘batteries’ don’t work properly, causing energy shortages that can impact almost any part of the body, including the brain, heart, muscles and digestive system.

Mitochondrial disease is a complex and difficult-to-diagnose condition. Symptoms vary widely from person to person, but often lead to severe physical and developmental challenges. There is currently no cure.

What are the effects of mitochondrial disease?

Mitochondrial disorders affect people in multiple ways, depending on which cells are affected. This can make the condition hard to diagnose, as mitochondrial disease symptoms often resemble those of other serious illnesses. For example, a person with mito disease may suffer from seizures, fatigue, vision and hearing loss, cognitive disabilities, respiratory problems or poor growth. Any of the body’s organs and systems can be affected including the brain, heart, lungs, gut, liver and skin. Examples of inherited mitochondrial disorders include MELAS syndrome, Leigh syndrome and Leber’s disease (LHON). For more information about these and other mitochondrial diseases visit our ‘What is mitochondrial disease?’ page or see our list of the different types of mitochondrial syndromes.

Is mitochondrial disease curable?

There is currently no cure for mitochondrial disorders, but The Lily Foundation are working hard to change that. Important steps have been made to make diagnosis faster, easier and less invasive for patients, and some promising research into effective mitochondrial disease treatments is underway. The more we learn about genetic mitochondrial dysfunction, the closer we will be to one day finding a cure.

Want to learn more about mitochondrial disease?

Head to the ‘Patients & Professionals’ side of our site where you’ll find the most frequently asked questions and answers about this inherited disorder.

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