Researchers here review the evidence for age-related loss of mitochondrial function to contribute to degenerative disc disease. It is certainly a contribution, but as for every aspect of aging it is very challenging to determine how important any given contribution is versus all of the others. So yes, mitochondrial quality control falters with age, and mitochondria become more damaged and dysfunctional as a result. This happens throughout the body. But is it more or less important for disc degeneration specifically than, say, the chronic inflammation of aging? Absent ways to individually fix each aspect of aging, so that results of…
Considering Mitochondrial Dysfunction as a Contributing Cause of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration
Researchers here review the evidence for age-related loss of mitochondrial function to contribute to degenerative disc disease. It is certainly a contribution, but as for every aspect of aging it is very challenging to determine how important any given contribution is versus all of the others. So yes, mitochondrial quality control falters with age, and mitochondria become more damaged and dysfunctional as a result. This happens throughout the body. But is it more or less important for disc degeneration specifically than, say, the chronic inflammation of aging? Absent ways to individually fix each aspect of aging, so that results of…