What Are Mitochondria?
Our program here incorporates more than just neurofeedback. Our wellness coaching support, under the guidance of Madison MacEocain, helps you create sustainable improvements in other areas of your life, like nutrition and sleep, which enhance your brain’s performance.
We’re always looking for new tools to add in and we’ve got a new one, Infra Red Light Therapy. This safe and effective modality can enhance the function of a tiny organelle that powers every cell in your body, your mitochondria.
Your brain, with its intricate network of neurons firing billions of signals per second, is a marvel of nature. It governs your thoughts, emotions, movements, and everything that makes you who you are. But behind this incredible functionality lies a powerhouse crucial for its proper functioning: mitochondria.
Often referred to as the “powerhouses of the cell,” mitochondria play a pivotal role in maintaining your brain’s health and cognitive function. Let’s see how their dysfunction can impact your cognitive abilities.
Mitochondria are tiny organelles found within cells, including those in the brain. Their primary function is to generate adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the molecule responsible for storing and transferring energy within cells. In your brain, where energy demands are exceptionally high, mitochondria are abundant, particularly in regions responsible for memory, learning, and cognition.
Although your brain constitutes only about 2% of your body’s weight, it consumes roughly 20% of your body’s energy. This energy is essential for various processes, including neurotransmitter synthesis, synaptic transmission, and maintenance of the cell’s resting membrane potential. Without an adequate energy supply, these processes become compromised, leading to impaired cognitive function.
When mitochondria fail to function optimally, it can have profound implications. Mitochondrial dysfunction can arise from various factors, including genetic mutations, environmental toxins, oxidative stress, and aging. As mitochondria struggle to produce ATP efficiently, neurons become vulnerable to damage and degeneration.
Several neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Huntington’s disease, are associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. In these conditions, impaired mitochondrial function contributes to neuronal death and progressive cognitive decline. Researchers are increasingly recognizing the importance of targeting mitochondrial dysfunction as a therapeutic approach for managing these disorders.
Maintaining optimal mitochondrial function is crucial for preserving brain health and cognitive function throughout your life. While some factors influencing mitochondrial health, such as genetics and aging, are beyond your control. But, as the picture above shows, there are things you can do to support your best mitochondrial function:
- Regular Exercise: Physical activity has been shown to enhance mitochondrial biogenesis and function, promoting brain health and cognitive resilience.
- Healthy Diet: Consuming a diet rich in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and nutrients that support mitochondrial function, such as coenzyme Q10 and magnesium, can help protect against oxidative stress and support mitochondrial health.
- Stress Management: Chronic stress can impair mitochondrial function through the release of stress hormones and oxidative damage. Practices such as mindfulness, meditation, and adequate sleep can mitigate the impact of stress on mitochondrial health.
- Avoiding Toxins: Exposure to environmental toxins, such as air pollutants and heavy metals, can damage mitochondria. Minimizing exposure to these toxins can help preserve mitochondrial function.
- Infra Red Light Therapy: Long used for improving healing from wounds and fractures, it is now being applied to improving brain health.
IR therapy is being used to improve function for people challenged by Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s so it makes sense to incorporate it into our brain training regimen here– to improve everyone’s brain.
