In a new article published in Scientific American, professor Martin Picard challenges the classic metaphor “mitochondria = powerhouses of the cell”. He instead describes mitochondria as the cell’s “motherboard” — they are precise information integrators, coordinating energy flows and communicating both within and between cells.
Key points:
- Mitochondria originate from bacteria and communicate with both their neighbours and the rest of the body to adapt to stress and change.
- They have a life cycle — they are born and die — and form communities within cells that help each other survive and thrive.
- Health & ageing: when these systems fail, we risk everything from metabolic diseases to neurodegeneration. Dysfunction in mitochondria contributes to ageing and chronic disease.
Why this matters:
Many researchers believe that mitochondrial health is central to longevity and vitality. To understand and optimise health at the deepest level we need to look beyond symptoms and consider how many variables interact at the most basic level. This is research that changes how we approach health, performance and preventive medicine.
