Improving mitochondrial function may be key to mental health and physical wellness

New research has found that the mitochondria might be a key link between psychological factors and physical health. These cell powerhouses influence energy production, immune responses, and neural functioning.

The study researchers warn that defective mitochondrial function is linked to mental health issues like anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 

The review in Current Directions in Psychological Science explains that chronic stress can trigger old traumas, leading to anxiety and depression, which affect brain physiology. However, the mechanism underlying these processes has remained ambiguous.

“We actually have biomarkers that really are showing links between psychological processes and people’s physiology,” says Christopher Fagundes, professor of psychological sciences at Rice University, US. 

Although physical exercise may improve mitochondrial resilience and boost mental health, the researchers call for further research to explore other therapies for mitochondrial function and psychological well-being.

The root of several health impacts 

Highlighting the importance of the mitochondria, the researchers point to emerging evidence of their role in health.

The cellular organs are noted to be sensitive to environmental changes and social conditions. This entails that stress, loneliness, and trauma can impact the mitochondria, leading to downstream psychological effects.

Studies have linked changes in mitochondrial function to anxiety, depression, PTSD, Alzheimer’s disease, and other neurological disorders. Physical health can also be impacted, leading to cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and certain cancers.

“The actual cellular machinery that links these experiences to disease really starts at the level of the mitochondria,” says Fagundes, in an interview with the Observer. 

Chronic stress may disrupt mitochondrial function, influencing energy balance, inflammation, and brain signaling.“Everything from the things we think of in terms of oxidative stress, to the fatigue we feel, to the byproducts that come when stressors get out of control, it really is at the root of that.”

Inflammation, brain signaling, and energy balance

The researchers specifically note that the brain’s high-energy demands make it vulnerable to mitochondrial dysfunction. When mitochondria are impaired, there is less energy available for neurotransmission and plasticity. This, in turn, hinders mood regulation and memory processes.

Moreover, the researchers note that chronic stress gradually reduces mitochondrial efficiency, increasing inflammation, disrupting energy balance, and impairing brain signaling. Symptoms include fatigue, cognitive difficulties, and mood disturbances.

Additionally, mitochondrial differences between people may explain why stress impacts people on different levels, they suggest.

“A lot of the relationships that we’ve been thinking of — [between] inflammatory processes and these kinds of mental health outcomes — we should look toward alterations in mitochondria being a real mediator or [underlying] mechanism,” says Fagundes.

“As a field, we’ve been talking a lot about things like inflammation. It tells us something is happening, but mitochondria help us explain why it’s happening at the cellular level. If we focus more on the cellular level, we’ll have a much deeper understanding of underlying processes.” 

Improving mitochondrial health

Although mitochondria are susceptible to damage, the researchers highlight their potential to improve function through targeted interventions. Specifically, exercises like endurance training have shown the most consistent evidence, while aerobic exercise has been shown to improve mitochondrial enzyme activity.

Amidst the focus on cellular health for longevity, Stephanie Guillen, chief commercial officer at SuanNutra, told Nutrition Insight that there is a growing interest in ingredients that support mitochondrial function and DNA integrity.

In industry developments, Mitsubishi Gas Chemical introduced a naturally derived and pure source of pyrroloquinoline quinone disodium salt, produced through a proprietary fermentation process. This ingredient was said to boost cognition and healthy aging through the mitochondria.

Meanwhile, astaxanthin can cross the blood-brain barrier and is more bioavailable in lipid-based forms, Dr. Behnaz Shakersain, scientific affairs manager at AstaReal, told us. Combining natural compounds with a solid scientific foundation, such as astaxanthin, with other known and emerging compounds can provide synergistic neuroprotective effects, targeting pathways involved in oxidative stress, inflammation, and mitochondrial health.

Researchers from the new study note that other studies have shown mindfulness programs reduce anxiety and alter mitochondrial activity, but other stress markers remain unchanged. Psychotherapy has also been shown to increase mitochondria, but has not correlated with symptom improvement.

Additionally, the researchers highlight the importance of combating loneliness. “When people are lonely and socially isolated, a lot of times there seems to be this loop where then they have more anxiety to go out of the house,” says Fagundes. 

“That is a recipe for negative alterations in the mitochondria, less energy, and less resources to expend. So, when one does try to break that cycle, it’s much more difficult.”