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Forbes
05-04-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Could Mitochondria Be The Missing Link In Mental Illness? 12 Insights
Microscopic view of mitochondria—often called the "powerhouses of the cell." Emerging science shows ... More their critical role in brain function, stress response, and mental health. There's a quiet revolution underway in psychiatry—one that doesn't start and end with a prescription pad. On a recent episode of the Huberman Lab podcast, Harvard psychiatrist and researcher Dr. Chris Palmer made a compelling case that may reshape the current understanding of mental illness. The common thread is something we all learned about in high school biology: it's about mitochondria (and mental health). As it turns out, mitochondria aka the 'powerhouse of the cell' do more than just churn out energy. They regulate brain function, stress responses, hormones, and inflammation. And when they fail, mental health problems can emerge. Here are 12 powerful insights from the conversation that just might change how we think about mental health. Psychiatric symptoms may stem from impaired cellular energy production. Neurons rely heavily on ATP — the energy molecule produced by mitochondria — to fire, repair and communicate. When energy is low, the brain can't perform at full capacity. This can lead to emotional and cognitive symptoms. Multiple studies like this one have identified mitochondrial dysfunction in depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, suggesting that energy failure may be a unifying pathway in many psychiatric conditions. There's a strong overlap between metabolic disorders and mental illness. Conditions like insulin resistance, obesity, and cardiovascular disease are linked to higher rates of depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline. It's no coincidence—the systems that regulate blood sugar, inflammation and energy also impact the brain. A recent study in the Journal of Affective Disorders found that individuals with metabolic syndrome were 1.3 to 1.5 times more likely to suffer from depression, reinforcing that the brain is deeply tied to the body's metabolic machinery – specifically the mitochondria. Trauma is more than emotional baggage — it can change biology. Individuals with six or more Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) live, on average, 20 years less than peers. Chronic stress harms the mitochondria, drives inflammation, and alters gene expression, accelerating aging and disease. A study published in PNAS examined the impact of childhood maltreatment on mitochondrial bioenergetics. Researchers found that mothers with a history of childhood maltreatment exhibited increased mitochondrial respiration and density in their peripheral blood mononuclear cells suggesting early life stress can lead to lasting changes in mitochondrial function. Mental health care has historically operated in disconnected domains: psychology, biology, and social support. Each of these tend to be treated as separate lanes. Yet these boundaries are blurring. Emotions, physical health, trauma history, and environment interact. Any effective approach must integrate all three — because mental illness is not just a psychological phenomenon. It's about the linkage between biology, relationships and lifestyle. Six lifestyle pillars — nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress management, avoiding substances and social connection — are powerful tools for brain health. These habits can restore mitochondrial function and even reverse the course of some psychiatric conditions. A landmark randomized controlled study, the SMILES trial, found that intense nutritional counseling led to significant improvement in depressive symptoms compared to usual care, highlighting how dietary patterns can directly affect mood. Regular physical activity increases both the number and efficiency of mitochondria—not just in muscle, but also in the brain. That translates into more energy, sharper cognition, better mood, and improved stress tolerance. This is one reason why elite endurance athletes may not look physically imposing, but their muscle (and brain) tissue is packed with high-functioning mitochondria. Regular moderate-intensity Zone 2 exercise for 150 to 300 minutes per week might not seem like a mental health treatment – but it may be for some people. Think less about specific superfoods and trendy supplements. It's not just about eating more blueberries. What matters most is the overall dietary pattern. Diets high in refined carbs and ultra-processed foods disrupt metabolism and brain function. The principle is simple: food is information and your brain is always listening. Alcohol, stimulants, and tobacco all impair mitochondrial function—sometimes permanently. They increase the production of toxic byproducts, which damage cells and contribute to inflammation and oxidative stress. Over time, this can lead to emotional volatility, cognitive decline, and metabolic dysfunction. Even 'low doses' aren't necessarily harmless, especially if used chronically. The old model of depression being solely a 'chemical imbalance' — usually involving serotonin — is not entirely complete. Antidepressants don't simply replace what's missing. Instead, they alter how brain circuits fire, often by modulating metabolism and creating an environment may supports change. They can be helpful and sometimes life-saving. Yet they're part of the picture — not the whole solution. The human stress response involves four key systems: cortisol, adrenaline, inflammation and gene expression. Mitochondria are involved in all four. They help turn stress on and off. When they're healthy, we adapt and recover. When they're damaged or depleted, we get stuck in survival mode, unable to return to baseline. Resilience, in this view, can be seen a function of cellular energy. Some people need therapy. Others need medication. Yet also some need changes in sleep, diet, and exercise. There is no universal prescription—only individual patterns of biology and behavior. The best care is flexible, layered and tailored. Treatment should not solely ask whether someone should be on meds or not. Rather it is address asks what combination of tools will unlock healing. Mental health care is finally starting to address the fact that the brain is a part of the body and its disorders are systemic. With a better understanding how metabolism, mitochondria, and lifestyle interact, clinicians may be able to prevent, reverse or radically rethink conditions once seen as lifelong. The future of psychiatry may be as much about biology as it is about talk therapy. A key component is what people eat, how they sleep, and how often they exercise. Ultimately, mental health isn't just about thoughts and feelings. It's about the biology that powers them. While health systems may take time to catch up, individuals—and forward-thinking clinicians—can start applying the science of mitochondria and mental health. Because healing the mind may begin with something as simple as moving more, eating better, and sleeping well.
BBC News
24-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Delight as Jersey swimarathon event raises over £78k
More than £78,000 has been raised at an annual charity swimming event in 2025 Lions Swimarathon at Les Quennevais Sports Centre finished on Sunday with 392 teams completing 23,215 laps of the pool over the five days it ran, the Lions Club of Jersey added the money raised so far from the event had reached £78,425.95 which would go to charities including Friends of Jersey Oncology, Jersey Hospice and ABC Breast Cancer Support year's event was the 53rd edition of the swimarathon and the Lions Club of Jersey said almost £4m had been raised since the first event was held in 1972. Chris Palmer, the event's organising committee chairman, said he wanted to thank everyone who had either taken part or volunteered to help with the swimarathon."Once again, after so many years, it is still amazing to see so many swimmers of all ages taking part and clearly enjoying the event," he added.
USA Today
31-01-2025
- General
- USA Today
A 'unfortunate chain of events': Pilots share thoughts on DC plane crash
AI-assisted summary Air traffic control audio suggests the helicopter crew may have misidentified the incoming passenger plane, potentially due to limited visibility and the use of night-vision goggles. Some experts and lawmakers have raised concerns about congestion at Reagan National Airport, suggesting it may have contributed to the collision. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident and expects to release a preliminary report in approximately 30 days. There are still plenty of questions on what led to Wednesday night's deadly mid-air collision between a passenger plane and an Army helicopter, but pilots who spoke to USA TODAY say a misinterpretation between the helicopter and air traffic control and limited visibility may have played roles. American Airlines Flight 5342 from Wichita, Kansas, was getting ready to land at Ronald Reagan National Airport when it collided with a Black Hawk helicopter around 9 p.m. Officials said there were no survivors, with all 64 people aboard the passenger plane and three soldiers on the helicopter killed. Investigations are ongoing. "We simply don't have all the facts yet, and they won't come out until they get all the black boxes," or data recorders installed on aircraft, said Chris Palmer, a commercial pilot and founder of online ground school Angle of Attack. "We have to be careful about jumping to conclusions." What caused the fatal mid-air collision?Key questions about plane crash Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. What we know from air traffic control audio Air traffic control audio indicates that the helicopter crew was aware – or at least believed they were aware – of the incoming passenger plane flagged by an air traffic controller. Per audio from a respected source for in-flight recording, Reagan National Airport air traffic control asked the helicopter crew if they had spotted the plane and asked them to pass behind it. The pilot told the control tower that it had the aircraft "in sight.' The collision followed seconds later, leading some pilots to speculate that the helicopter crew had misidentified the plane they were supposed to be on the lookout for. The helicopter crew 'must have been looking at something else, misconstrued what (air traffic control) was saying,' said Laura Einsetler, a commercial pilot for a major U.S. airline and author of the Captain Laura blog. 'You misidentify, and then the crew takes their eye off things for a few seconds, and that's all it takes. It's just a really unfortunate chain of events,' added Palmer. 'It's just one of those things that seem like human error.' Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the helicopter crew had been carrying night-vision goggles. Einsetler said these can reduce visual depth perception, although vision may have been difficult even without the goggles at that altitude and time of day. 'At night, your visual acuity goes down. From the perspective of the Black Hawk pilot, the regional jet is going to look dark. The river looks dark. The runway looks dark. There's a lot of city and airport lighting in the background,' she said. 'Everything blends in.' 'To me, it seems they didn't see the right airplane, and those visual illusions kicked in and they weren't able to see and avoid the aircraft,' Palmer said. President Donald Trump on Thursday said the helicopter should have been flying at a different elevation and "should have seen where they were going." "What was the helicopter doing in that track? Very sad," Trump said during a White House press briefing. "But visually, somebody should have been able to see and taken that helicopter out of play, and they should have been at a different height." It's unclear whether the plane or helicopter were outside their designated airspace. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., a ranking member of the U.S. Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation, said she would be requesting information on their flight patterns, as previously reported by USA TODAY. Lawmakers say Reagan National Airport too congested Some have questioned whether congestion at Reagan National Airport – among the busiest airports in the country – played a role in Wednesday's collision. Lawmakers from Maryland and Virginia last year had argued that the airspace around the airport was too congested, and voted against a bill that would add more round-trip flights to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The bill was signed into law in May. In a February statement, four senators called the move a 'profoundly reckless decision' that would overburden Reagan National Airport's runway. 'The Committee is gambling with the safety of everyone who uses this airport,' the letter reads. 'Forcing the airport to cram additional flights in its already crowded schedule will further strain its resources at a time when air traffic controllers are overburdened and exhausted, working 10-hour days, six days a week.' Einsetler, who said she has flown into Reagan National Airport "many times,' said it is a 'very busy airspace' with the military, commercial airlines and corporate aviation operating in and out. 'As the investigators go forward, there will probably be some rulings made as to how the combination of all those things operate within the same airspace,' she said. Robert Clifford, an aviation attorney with experience with commercial airline disasters, said he's pushing for an immediate halt of military aircraft using the airspace 'until they sort this out.' 'It's long known within local Washingtonian circles that there's a lot of congestion at the Reagan airport,' Clifford said. 'You have this cross-pollination of use by the commercial operators and the military in an area that's restricted because it's right next door to the capital.' More details are expected after investigators examine black boxes and conduct witness interviews. Trump said the collision is being investigated by the National Transportation Security Board and the military. NTSB said Thursday it expects to release a preliminary report in about 30 days. "Today, we embark on a long journey of grief, recovery, and fact-gathering," reads a statement from Jason Ambrosi, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, a pilots' union. "A lot of details and speculation will come out in response to this tragedy, but we must remember to let the investigation run its course."
