Psychiatry

Internal medicine

Endocrinology

Neuroscience

Psychological intervention

Sarcopenia

Longevity

Calorie restriction

Mitochondrion

Healthy ageing

Computer security

Computer science

Ageing

Bioinformatics

Medicine

Gerontology

Biology

Cell biology

Vulnerability (computing)

Nature Reviews Endocrinology

Organismal ageing is accompanied by progressive loss of cellular function and systemic deterioration of multiple tissues, leading to impaired function and increased vulnerability to death. Mitochondria have become recognized not merely as being energy suppliers but also as having an essential role in the development of diseases associated with ageing, such as neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases. A growing body of evidence suggests that ageing and age-related diseases are tightly related to an energy supply and demand imbalance, which might be alleviated by a variety of interventions, including physical activity and calorie restriction, as well as naturally occurring molecules targeting conserved longevity pathways. Here, we review key historical advances and progress from the past few years in our understanding of the role of mitochondria in ageing and age-related metabolic diseases. We also highlight emerging scientific innovations using mitochondria-targeted therapeutic approaches.

Mitochondrial and metabolic dysfunction in ageing and age-related diseases