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Facts about Mitochondria

Facts about Mitochondria

What are mitochondria and what do they do?

Mitochondria are Batteries of the Cells Illustration

  • Mitochondria function as batteries that produce more than 90% of the energy in your body’s cells.
  • Mitochondria are really important in high-energy demanding organs such as your heart, liver, muscles and brain.
  • 40% of each heart muscle cell and 25% of each liver cell are made up of mitochondria.

About mitochondrial disorder

Every 30 Minutes Illustration

  • Every 30 minutes, a child is born who will develop a mitochondrial disorder or disease by age 10.
  • Mitochondrial disease affects at least 1 in every 4,300 people globally.
  • When mitochondria fail, less and less energy is generated within cells. This can lead to cell damage or disease.
  • Mitochondrial disease is a chronic, genetic disorder that occurs when mitochondria fails to produce enough energy for that cell or organ to function.

Mitochondrial dysfunction: the search for a cure

Mitochondria Research Illustration

  • Physicians and researchers have only known about mitochondrial disease for about 30 years.
  • The most important next steps in helping people with mitochondrial disorders are developing better tests and individualized treatments.
  • Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) is determined to lead the way in making sure no child suffers in the dark from mitochondrial dysfunction.
     

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With your help, we can continue making advances that will deliver the best possible outcomes for children and adults with mitochondrial diseases.

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