What is mitochondrial disease?
Mitochondrial disease is a rare genetic condition in which DNA mutations prevent the body from producing enough energy.
Mitochondria create the energy that the body needs to grow and perform vital functions.
They are present in all cells of the body, but the effects are mostly felt in the brain, heart and lungs – the areas that require the most energy to work.
What causes mitochondrial disease?
Mitochondrial disease is caused by faulty or missing DNA. The job of DNA is to provide instructions to the body. In this case, instructions to provide energy are not given to the mitochondria which results in damage to cells.
What are the symptoms of mitochondrial disease?
The symptoms of mitochondrial disease depend on how many cells are affected and where they are located within the body.
There are many different types of mitochondrial disease. Some of the common symptoms are:
- Poor growth and developmental delays (in children)
- Muscle weakness
- Vision and hearing loss
- Digestive problems
- Seizures
- Migraines
- Fainting
- Breathing problems
Most of the symptoms of mitochondrial disease will be present from birth, but some symptoms develop at later stages in life.
