Home > Encyclopedia of Neurological Disorders > Mitochondrial Myopathies

Definition

Mitochondrial myopathies are a group of neuromuscular disorders that result from defects in the function of the mitochondrion, a small organelle located inside many cells that are responsible for fulfilling energy requirements of the tissue. These structures serve as "power plants" and are particularly important for providing energy for both muscle and brain function due to the large requirement for energy in these tissues.

People affected with one of these disorders usually have muscle symptoms such as weakness, breathlessness, exercise intolerance, heart failure, dementia, stroke-like symptoms, deafness, blindness, seizures, heavy eyelids or eye problems, and/or...