Genomics of aging: Reactive oxidation and inefficient mitochondria

Many things are associated with decreased health and lifespan, including cancer, diabetes, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, and chronic inflammatory conditions. Clinicians may not be familiar with the role that mitochondrial mutations and associated mitochondrial dysfunction play in a shortened lifespan. This article, the fifth in the JAANP Genomics of Aging series, describes the role that mitochondrial dysfunction plays in the development of age-related diseases such as Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, cancer, heart disease, and stroke.