The ageing mitochondrial genome.
The population of elderly individuals has increased significantly over the past century and is predicted to rise even more rapidly in the future. Ageing is a major risk factor for many diseases such as neurodegenerative disease, diabetes and cancer. This highlights the importance of understanding the mechanisms involved in the ageing process. One plausible mechanism for ageing is accumulation of mutations in the mitochondrial genome. In this review, we discuss some of the most convincing data surrounding age-related mtDNA mutations and the evidence that these mutations contribute to the ageing process.
Krishnan
Kim J
KJ
School of Neurology, Neurobiology and Psychiatry and Institute for Ageing and Health, Newcastle University, Framlington Place, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK. k.j.krishnan@ncl.ac.uk
Greaves
Laura C
LC
Reeve
Amy K
AK
Turnbull
Doug
D
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D054629:Genome, Mitochondrial; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D028361:Mitochondrial Diseases / Q000235:genetics; D023421:Models, Animal; D009154:Mutation