In this episode of New Frontiers in Functional Medicine, Dr. Kara Fitzgerald sits down with neuroscientist and mitochondrial health researcher Dr. Siobhan Mitchell to explore emerging research on mitochondrial dysfunction, aging, and longevity. They discuss how mitochondria change as we age, how mitochondrial dysfunction may contribute to chronic inflammation and age-related disease, and why supporting mitochondrial health could be an important strategy for extending healthspan.
The conversation explores the relationship between mitochondrial dysfunction and biological aging, inflammation, cardiovascular and metabolic health, cognitive decline, and chronic disease. Dr. Mitchell also discusses emerging biomarkers of mitochondrial stress, including GDF-15, and what they may reveal about mitochondrial health and aging trajectories.
Dr. Fitzgerald and Dr. Mitchell also examine practical and emerging approaches to supporting mitochondrial function, including creatine, NAD+ precursors, S-equol, exercise, and targeted mitochondrial support, along with research on vascular function, cellular energy production, and mitochondrial DNA damage.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
How mitochondrial dysfunction may contribute to inflammation and accelerated aging
Why mitochondrial DNA damage could play a role in chronic disease
What GDF-15 may reveal about mitochondrial stress and aging
How creatine supports cellular and brain energy
The connection between estrogen, S-equol, and mitochondrial health
What emerging research says about NAD+ precursors and aging
How targeted mitochondrial support may influence vascular health, exercise recovery, and cellular function
Full show notes + references: https://www.drkarafitzgerald.com/fxmed-podcast/
GUEST DETAILS
Dr Siobhan Mitchell PhD., MitoQ Chief Scientific Officer
Holding a PhD in neuroscience from SUNY Albany, Siobhan Mitchell has also completed a post-doctoral fellowship on brain aging at the University of Washington. She has over 15 years of clinical research experience, seven patents on mood and cognitive food products, and has authored over 50 papers on aging, brain health, nutrition, metabolic health and more.
With a personal passion for brain aging research, Siobhan has worked on metabolic and skin health, appetite, sports physiology and of cellular health – which she now focuses on as the Chief Scientific Officer for research-backed cellular health company, MitoQ – creators of the world’s first mitochondria-targeted antioxidant.
THANKYOU TO OUR SPONSOR
MitoQ
mitoq.com/partner
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Better Broths and Healing Tonics book: https://tinyurl.com/3644mrfw