Mitochondrial Diseases
...e same thing, but each one affects people with different symptoms (Naviaux 3). It is important to understand that altered mitochondrial genetic material is the only cause for a mitochondrial disease (Cohen 54). The cause of these altered genes is due to a bad mix of parental genes, or a deletion of certain genes (Wallace 2). Without getting involved with the scientific and biological aspects of gene mutation, the explanation can be easily compared to the combination of two paints that produce a repulsive finishing tint. One parent’s chromosomes and the other parent’s chromosomes combine improperly and their offspring’s mitochondria turn out to not function appropriately (Naviaux 3). The parents do not need to have a mitochondrial disease in order for their child to get one, however if they do in fact have one, chances of their children receiving one is of higher threat (Robinson 58). Once a child has been diagnosed with a mitochondrial disease, it is important for the parents and siblings of this child to be tested, even if no evident side effects are visible; effects are unique for each person (Carpenter A1). Mitochondrial diseases commonly affect the brain and nervous system. Weakness and repeated cases of fatigue are one of the side effects of having a mitochondrion setback with your nervous system (Cohen 54). Not all people who suffer theses symptoms should feel as if they are experiencing mitochondrial disorders, but if the symptoms do not subside for a great length of time it is important to possibly have a test done (Parsons 11). If a mitochondrial disease goes untreated worse effects may occur. In the case of a nervous system disorder, strokes may come as a result, along with lesions in the brain (Cohen 55). These lesions are associated with the disease known as Leigh’s Disease, which many people know of, but were not informed about its connection with defective mitochondrion. A few more diseases often times overlooked as being mitochondrion allied are Alzheimer’s disease and Kearns-Sayre Syndrome (Cohen 56). You notice, even people who demonstrate no signs of mitochondrial disease early on in life may be affected as aging development occurs, as Alzheimer’s is most commonly affiliated with the elderly (Naviaux 6). Another ordinary place for a mitochondrial disease to affect may be in the audible and visual sensatory organs. Visual impairments may be a sign that mitochondrial dysfunction is happening in a person’s body. In some more severe cases it may even cause permanent blindness, simply because the mitochondrion are not generating and distributing energy properly to places where vision is produced. Similar experiences can occur with the hearing of a person. Mitochondrial disease may cause either a partial loss of hearing, or complete deafness (Robinson 59). Serious problems may occur when the digestive system is affected with a mitochondrial dysfunction (Parsons 11). There are several areas of the digestive system that build a mechanism where each organ relies on the next for proper functionality and energy distribution (Drahota 136). Since the digestive system is the starting point of nutrient consumption, and mitochondrion are the starting points of the metabolic process, when a disease affects this area of the body it is probable that many areas of the body can become a victim to the disease. The inability of body to use nutrients efficiently is very serious because major organs can shut down without the energy necessary to survive (Wallace 2). In the case of a digestive system disease, which would cause a lack of energy distribution from the source, the other organs are affected because if the starting point cannot get enough energy to function properly then there is no energy to be distributed in the first place (Naviaux 3). Often times doctors will go about methods of feeding to avoid using the dysfunctional digestive system at all, but all of these methods are extremely dangerous and are only partially effective (Parsons 10). As stated previously, mitochondrial diseases affect every one of the people who have one in a different manner and severity. Some people will experience symptoms in a very specific part of their body, while others will have multiple organs affected (Wallace 2). Whether mitochondrion dysfunction is a problem in the heart, eyes, ears, brain, or digestive track, the disease in most cases starts off mild and experimental treatments may help the patient live a somewhat normal life (Carpenter A1). As the person grows older the disease tends to become more overpowering; sometimes to the point of not being able to function in a normal manner. When Mackenzie Carpenter was sp...