Mitochondria, Mothers and Mental Disorders

Mitochondria are not just the powerhouse of the cell ;)

The mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell.

The mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell

THE MITOCHONDRIA IS THE POWERHOUSE OF THE CELL

Yes, we get it. We have all heard it since our childhood biology classes and we have this seared into the very surface of our brains (I guess.)

But that is not all there is to the mitochondria. The mitochondria is actually a very interesting part of our cytology. Until a few decades back, we weren’t sure where they came from.

Recently, we have come to realize that these mitochondria, the small power generators of our cells are not ours at all!

Where Did They Come From?

You see mitochondria have their own DNA, their own RNA, their own protein building mechanism. In fact, biologists now believe that mitochondria are actually ancient bacteria-like cells that formed a symbiotic relationship with our, more advanced eukaryotic cells.

This relationship of ours and mitochondria has gone on for, quite literally, hundreds of thousands of years.

So, mitochondria are not just the powerhouse of the cell, it is an extra-organism that is residing in pretty much every single cell of our bodies, but that is not all there is to these tiny little generators.

How is any of this related to psychology or mental disorders you may ask? Well, be patient, we will get there. The journey will be worth the wait.

Recently I asked my followers on Instagram about who we get our mitochondria from, is it from one of the parents or from both of them?

Understandably, a large majority voted for a bi-parent inheritance.

But that is not true.

See, when you were nothing more than a single cell, the result of the fusion of an ovum from your mom and a sperm from your dad, not every single part of this cell was divided 50-50 among your parents. The DNA was, yes, but not the rest of the cell.

You get your mitochondria from your mom. Every single powerhouse in your body is a direct result of the mitochondria of your mom. Ever wondered why you have similar energy levels to your mom and not your dad? Well, this is why.

Well, now we know where these little buggers come from, historically and genetically, but they also do one more important thing. (apart from literally giving us the energy we need to live)

They pass on mental disorders.

Mito-Gone-Crazy

So from a neurological view, mental illnesses are a result of misfiring neurons or miscommunication between the two. Until a few years back, this misfiring was an abstract idea. It wasn’t clear how, or why, this occurred. Recently though, researchers have found that neurons with faulty mitochondria produce fewer energy molecules (known as ATP) and harm the overall functioning of the cell.

In a study conducted in Germany, it was found that people who share mitochondrial DNA (which again, comes only from the mothers) with a person with schizophrenia have a higher risk of presenting with schizophrenia themselves later in life compared to people who do not have a maternal ancestor with the disorder.

Basically, if your mother has a mental disorder, you are more likely to have it as well.

There was an even more intriguing study conducted on the families of victims of the holocaust. The study proposed that direct descendants of victims of the holocaust were more likely to develop PTSD or other mental disorders. It was believed that mitochondrial DNA was the secret to passing on intergenerational trauma, an idea that until then had been a purely psychological proposition.

But, that study did not replicate.

So we are not quite certain whether these little powerhouses in our body carry our generational trauma as well. What we do know, though, is that healing mitochondria can play a very important role in healing mental disorders.

But what does it mean?

A problem I have always had with the biological explanation of mental disorders is, what does the individual do exactly?

If I got to know that it was my faulty mitochondria causing my suicidal thoughts, what could I possibly do to heal it? Do I have no choice or say in the matter? Is every thought of mine simply a product of the genetic interactions of my mitochondria and my cells?

There is no easy answer to these questions. The debate of biological determinism and psychological free will is an age-old debate that doesn’t seem like it will end anytime soon.

What we do know though, is that mitochondria may be the powerhouse of the cell, but they are also A LOT more than that.

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And that is it for another week on Psychology with Arjun! How have you been? I have been trying to think of more interesting stories to tell everyone, but I will be honest I am running on bare fumes right now. Do you have any ideas? Any stories you would love to know more about? Give me a shout, I will definitely look into it.

You can let me know by replying to this email.

Until next time,

Arjun