Mitochondria May Be the Common Root of Mental Illness

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Dr. Chris Palmer argues that mitochondria — the structures inside cells responsible for energy production — do far more than generate power. They regulate the production and release of key neurotransmitters including serotonin, dopamine, and acetylcholine; they contain the enzymes needed to synthesize cortisol, estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone; and they control whether inflammatory processes in the brain switch on and off. Because disruption in all of these systems is consistently found in people with psychiatric disorders, Palmer believes dysfunctional mitochondria may be the single unifying cause tying together the otherwise puzzling mix of hormonal, inflammatory, and neurotransmitter abnormalities seen in depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. He notes that researcher David Sinclair has published work identifying mitochondrial dysfunction as a possible unifying driver of aging itself, reinforcing the stakes of keeping mitochondria healthy.