Mitochondrial DNA Heteroplasmy Associations With Neurosensory and Mobility Function in Elderly Adults.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) heteroplasmy is a mixture of normal and mutated mtDNA molecules in a cell. High levels of heteroplasmy at specific mtDNA sites lead to inherited mitochondrial diseases with neurological, sensory, and movement impairments. Here we test the hypothesis that heteroplasmy levels in elderly adults are associated with impaired function resembling mild forms of mitochondrial disease.

Methods

We examined platelet mtDNA heteroplasmy at 20 disease-causing sites for associations with neurosensory and mobility function among 137 participants from the community-based Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study.

Results

Elevated mtDNA heteroplasmy at four mtDNA sites in complex I and tRNA genes was nominally associated with reduced cognition, visio

SUBMITTER: Tranah GJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4612388 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature