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Updated: Aug 22, 2025
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Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Intrinsic Capacity: Insights From a Narrative Review
Jaqueline Aragoni da Silva1, Yves Rolland1,2, Laurent O Martinez3
1Institut du Vieillissement, Gérontopôle de Toulouse, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire de Toulouse, Toulouse, France.
Summary
Mitochondrial dysfunction is linked to declining intrinsic capacity (IC) in older adults across multiple domains. Evidence suggests mitochondrial DNA copy number correlates with locomotion, psychological, cognitive, vitality, and sensory functions, supporting its role in healthy aging.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology and cellular biology
- Investigating the biological underpinnings of aging and functional decline.
Background:
- Aging is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, potentially impacting intrinsic capacity (IC) across five domains: locomotion, psychological, cognition, vitality/nutrition, and sensory.
- The Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) framework, guided by WHO, operationalizes IC through these domains.
Approach:
- This narrative review synthesizes original research examining the relationship between human mitochondrial function and the five IC domains.
- Studies included various designs, focusing on tissues like skeletal muscle and peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
Key Points:
- Limited evidence currently exists, with most studies being cross-sectional and using small sample sizes.
- Mitochondrial function, particularly mitochondrial DNA copy number, shows associations with all examined IC domains.
- The strongest evidence links mitochondrial function to locomotion, while data for hearing is less abundant.
Conclusions:
- Mitochondrial function appears correlated with intrinsic capacity domains through distinct mechanisms.
- Further research is crucial to confirm mitochondria's role in maintaining function and preventing age-related disability for healthy aging.
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