Siobhan Mitchell, PhD

Mitochondrial dysfunction in long COVID: mechanisms, consequences, and potential therapeutic approaches - GeroScience The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has introduced the medical community to the phenomenon of long COVID, a condition characterized by persistent symptoms following the resolution o...

SARS-COV2 (Covid virus) definitely seems to affect mitochondria function in neurons (which then can also lead to severe inflammation). Mitochondria therapeutics are being examined for long COVID link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Axonal distribution of mitochondria maintains neuronal autophagy during aging via eIF2β Upregulation of the β subunit of translation initiation factor eIF2 underlies autophagy suppression and premature aging caused by disruption of axonal transport of mitochondria.

🧪Mitochondria control brain aging by ensuring proper protein degradation

Build up of excess proteins, such as amyloid and tau, can lead to Alzheimer's disease. This study shows that loss of mitochondria in axons causes build up of dysfunctional, damaging proteins.

doi.org/10.7554/eLif...

exactly, someone taking a GLP-1 agonist for over 6 months with these kinds of deficiencies can do serious harm to their health (not mention feel terrible and exhausted)

Human hippocampal neurogenesis in adulthood, ageing and Alzheimer’s disease - Nature Mapping of neurogenesis in human hippocampi across ages and different cognitive abilities using multiomic single-cell sequencing reveals distinct signatures between cognitive preservation and decline.

New @nature.com
The brains of Super Agers produce more neurons than people some 50 years younger, a neurogenesis resilient signature linked to exceptional cognitive health and memory skills
nature.com/articles/s41...

💥 🍃 🧪 Exciting new findings !!

🧪This study show how nutritionally deficient GLP-1 agonist users are

less than 10% of GLP-1 agonist users met recommendations for protein, fiber, vitamin D, calcium, and potassium intake

Excessive sodium or animal protein hindered weight loss

www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-7...

Giant tortoises return to Galápagos island after nearly 200 years The native species was driven to extinction by sailors in the 1800s. Now, 158 juvenile giant tortoises have been reintroduced to the island.

Giant tortoises return to Galápagos island after nearly 200 years. 🧪 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

possibly! oxytocin makes you focus on others, less on your physiological needs

🧪Role of oxytocin in weight loss:

Oxytocin is known as the bonding hormone but it can also induce weight loss and decrease appetite. This study showed that oxytocin predicted weight loss after a ketogenic diet

Oxytocin: potential indicator of metabolic flexibility

www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18...

I find this hard to believe, I don’t know anyone who’s used AI for companionship.

Cardiac adaptation to endurance exercise training requires suppression of GDF15 via PGC-1α - Nature Cardiovascular Research Khetarpal et al. show that the metabolic regulator PGC-1α is essential in heart muscle cells for exercise-driven cardiac growth, and that suppression of the stress-induced myokine GDF15 is required to...

🧪Exercise improves heart health, but all the benefits go away if PGC1-alpha, a mediator of mitochondria growth, is blocked.

In fact mitochondria respiration is a better predictor of cardiac fitness than VO2Max

www.nature.com/articles/s44...

Glucose levels are associated with mood, but the association is mediated by ratings of metabolic state We conclude that hunger-related mood shifts depend on conscious sensing of the body's internal state instead of acting subconsciously. Our study highlights the relevance of considering the self-report...

We often hear someone saying they're cranky due to low blood sugar. But most research shows there's no correlation of mood and blood glucose...

A new study has a new twist--some people can sense low blood glucose-- but only via hunger which manifests as poor mood.
www.thelancet.com/journals/ebi...

Dietary Protein Restriction Ameliorates Cardiac Inflammaging via AMPK‐ULK1‐Mediated Mitochondrial Quality Control Dietary protein restriction protects the aging heart in the context of obesity by limiting mitochondrial DNA leakage and suppressing cGAS–STING-driven inflammation. Through AMPK–ULK1-dependent mitoph....

🧪Are high protein diets really better for aging?

Protein restriction in mice improves mitochondria quality control via AMPK signalling. This enhanced cardiovascular health by maintaining ATP production.

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

MitoQ alleviates m.3243A>G-induced mitochondrial dysfunction by stabilizing PINK1 and enhancing mitophagy - PubMed The mitochondrial 3243A>G mutation (m.3243A>G) is associated with diverse clinical phenotypes. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms and explore intervention strategies in m.3243A>G patients, urine-derived stem cells (USCs) and a mitochondrial leucyl-tRNA synthetase gene (lars-2) deficient …

we're collaborating with a professor who's reported that MELAS patients benefited from MitoQ, here's a paper on her preclinical results so far (MitoQ is better at targeting the mitochondria than CoQ10)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40850503/

Long-term effects of APOEε4 on mortality The apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene plays a critical role in neurodegenerative diseases,1,2 cardiovascular diseases,2 and longevity.3 Nucleotide polymorphisms give rise to three alleles of APOE, namely A...

🧪A recent study showed that mortality is tied to APOE4, which raises risk of Alzheimer's ~88% www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

to decrease Alzheimer's risk (APOE4):

-maintain insulin sensitivity
-exercise regularly
-take care of your mitochondria via mitoquinol: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41502301/

Phase 2 trial: ICP-332, a TYK2 inhibitor, showed safety and efficacy for moderate-severe AD in 18-75yr olds across 19 centers in China. PMID:41533373, JAMA Dermatol 2026 https://doi.org/10.1001/jamadermatol.2025.5295 #Medsky #Pharmsky #RNA #ASHG #ESHG 🧪

Fat sensory cues in early life program central response to food and obesity - Nature Metabolism Non-nutritive sensory components of high-fat diet, such as bacon flavour, are sufficient to impair metabolic health in offspring in mice.

RESEARCH | L Casanueva Reimon, SM Steculorum et al. (CECAD)

Non-nutritive sensory components of high-fat diet, such as bacon flavor, are sufficient to impair metabolic health in mice 🧪

Science in 2050: the future breakthroughs that will shape our world — and beyond Nuclear fusion. People on Mars. Artificial general intelligence. These are just some of the advances that could come by the mid-century mark.

A feature in Nature examines what could come in science before 2050, including nuclear fusion and people on Mars. 🧪

Map of US showing high levels of Influenza like illness across most of the US. Very high in 20 states as well in purple.

✨Please share! My newsletter is out.

🤒"Ridiculous numbers of Flu" now
💊Combo (antivirals + anti-inflammatory) for Long COVID
💉RFK Jr changes Childhood Immunization Schedule w/o data
👶NY free childcare for all 2 year olds

& much more buff.ly/L0LgQG6

#medsky #pedsky 🛟😷🧪

A blood based mitochondrial functional index biomarker for Alzheimer's disease Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology is complex and involves mitochondrial dysfunction. There are emerging therapies targeting mitochondrial function in clinical trials for AD. This highlights the need for biomarkers that measure mitochondrial ...

🧪Super-innovative mitochondria function blood test has been developed to show possible Alzheimer's risk !

Mitochondrial function was tested via mitochondria size, membrane potential, apoptosis, oxidative stress.

It correlated to worse cognition and APOE4
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC...

It goes to show that often these single nutrient trials are missing important interactions

Why your vitamin D supplements might not be working A randomized trial from Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center reveals that magnesium may be the missing key to keeping vitamin D levels in balance. The study found that magnesium raised vitamin D in people ...

Why your vitamin D supplements might not be working

This study showed that sufficient magnesium helped improve vitamin D levels (including optimising levels that are too high )

Another reason to ensure good #magnesium intake!

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/202...

How the ‘holiday hangover’ hits women – and how they should respond OPINION: My hope is that if women understand this, they will be kinder on themselves and lean into rest.

As 2025 draws to a close and we focus on getting ready for 2026, here's my op ed in the NZ Herald on how to address 'holiday hangover'

It's got tips on
🧪diet
🧪lifestyle
🧪dealing with stress

www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/3609...

Reversible reduction in brain myelin content upon marathon running - Nature Metabolism Using magnetic resonance imaging on marathon runners, Ramos-Cabrer, Cabrera-Zubizarreta et al. report that the signal detected as a surrogate of myelin content is significantly reduced after exercise, but fully recovered within two months.

Top #Altmetric 2025: 🥈🧪

C Matute et al (UPV/EHU, ES) report that the MRI signal used as surrogate of myelin content is significantly reduced after marathon running, but fully recovered within two months.

Friendship is magic: male dolphins with close friends age more slowly Like friendship itself, the slower ageing is more than just skin deep.

If you need a happy science story today - another piece how male dolphins who bond better with their mates* age slower

@aunz.theconversation.com piece by @liviagerber.bsky.social @kjpeters.bsky.social and Lee Rollins

*Aussie dolphins, so the Aussie meaning of mates
🐳🦑🧪

Theobromine is associated with slower epigenetic ageing | Aging Aging | doi:10.18632/aging.206344. Ramy Saad, Ricardo Costeira, Pamela R. Matías-García, Sergio Villicaña, Christian Gieger, Karsten Suhre, Annette Peters, Gabi Kastenmüller, Ana Rodriguez-Mateos, Cri...

🧪Theobromine (the main psychoactive in #cocoa) is associated with slower aging

Years ago, I published on how #theobromine improves mood and blood pressure, so nice to see these benefits extend to #aging as well (bring on the #hotchocolate)

www.aging-us.com/article/2063...

Graceful Aging: Nourishing Health at the Cellular Level - The Balancing Act MitoQ offers breakthrough mitochondrial supplements to support vitality, cellular longevity, and whole-body health.

For all those interested in #healthaging and #mitochondria check out my appearance on the Balancing Act with Montel Williams and Olga Villaverde

Graceful Aging: Nourishing Health at the Cellular Level thebalancingact.com/graceful-agi...

💥CONTAM CALENDAR GIVEAWAY💥

Here's your chance to win a ContamCalendar 2026! 🗓️🍄🦠

Just follow @contamclub.bsky.social and repost this post to enter the competition

Winner will be randomly selected from Bluesky or Twitter on Wednesday @ 6pm UTC

New research identifies a unique T-helper cell subset that increases with age and may help clear senescent cells — a potential lever for slowing biological aging.
At AGE, we champion discoveries that reveal how the immune system shapes longevity.
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/202...

#AgingResearch