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The assertion that mitochondrial damage and disruption contribute to aging,
and to a number of diseases that we associate with growing older, has gained
wide acceptance among researchers. While our knowledge of the mechanisms
that contribute to age-related mitochondrial damage is by no means complete,
a fair amount is known about the generation of renegade oxygen free radicals
- the compounds that indiscriminately damage components of the mitochondria.
As a result of that understanding, current research on mitochondria and
aging has tended to focus on several interrelated areas:
 Minimizing the generation
of compounds toxic to mitochondria
Neutralizing and protecting
mitochondria from oxidants that are formed
Repairing mitochondrial
damage once it has occurred
Researchers are seeking to achieve these goals by testing various means,
from modifying the diet to genetic manipulation.
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