Multiple sclerosis (MS) is marked by problems with the body’s ability to make new mitochondria, according to a recent study published in the journal Brain and Behavior. Researchers discovered that people diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) had abnormal blood markers related to these cellular power plants, alongside elevated indicators of inflammation and cellular stress that correlate directly with severe fatigue and anxiety.
Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Cellular Stress in Multiple Sclerosis
Mitochondria serve as tiny power plants inside cells, turning food into usable energy. In the study titled “Associations Between Neuromuscular Fatigue, Anxiety, and Peripheral Biomarkers of Neuronal Injury, Inflammation, and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Treatment-Naïve Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis,” scientists in Brazil analyzed blood samples from 20 people with RRMS and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy controls.
The research team identified significant differences in biologically active molecules between the two groups. Patients with MS showed reduced expression of TFAM genes, which help cells build new mitochondria. At the same time, these patients exhibited elevated levels of Parkin and Pink-1, proteins responsible for breaking down damaged mitochondria. According to the study authors, this dynamic suggests that individuals with MS are losing power plants faster than they can manufacture replacements.
Did you know? RRMS is the most common form of multiple sclerosis, characterized by periods of new or worsening symptoms interspersed with times when symptoms stabilize. Participants with RRMS in this study reported significantly more severe fatigue and anxiety than healthy individuals.
Inflammatory Markers and Symptom Correlations
Beyond mitochondrial changes, the blood analysis revealed pronounced immune system imbalances. MS patients showed higher levels of inflammation-related molecules, including the protein NLRP3. The participants also displayed elevated markers of oxidative stress, a form of cellular damage heavily implicated in the progression of the disease.
The researchers proposed that these peripheral blood markers may serve as accessible candidate indicators of disease-related biological alterations. According to the team, the work suggests that MS is characterized by a peripheral inflammatory-mitochondrial imbalance closely linked to patient-reported fatigue and anxiety. Because the underlying biology driving MS remains incompletely understood, identifying these blood-based markers offers a new avenue for tracking how systemic inflammation disrupts cellular activity throughout the body.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is multiple sclerosis?
MS is a chronic disease characterized by inflammation that damages healthy cells in the brain and spinal cord. This nerve damage disrupts normal neurological signaling, leading to symptoms such as spasticity, cognitive impairment, and mental health challenges.
What role do mitochondria play in MS?
According to the Brain and Behavior study, people with MS show a reduction in genes that build new mitochondria alongside an increase in proteins that destroy damaged ones, pointing to a breakdown in cellular energy production.
What is relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis?
RRMS is the most prevalent form of the condition, defined by alternating phases of new or worsening symptoms and periods of relative stability.
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