The first person diagnosed with Mitochondrial Disease was in 1959. Four years later, mitochondria (mtDNA) was discovered to have it's own DNA blue-print. Now there have been more than 40 different identified diseases that have different genetic features. What is common, is that most mtDNA diseases give lack to the ability to completely burn food and oxygen to generate energy.

The symptoms of this disease may affect the cells in the brain, nerves, muscles, kidneys, heart, liver, eyes, ears or pancreas. In some patients all organs are involved. Illness can range from slight to severe, even fatal.

For many people mtDNA disease is brought on through heredity. There are no cures for this, but treatment can help dilute or prevent the progression of mtDNA disease.

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