Mitochondrial dysfunction and possible treatments in Parkinson's disease - a review

Mitochondria are central not only to the bioenergetics of the cell but also to the process of apoptotic cell death. Substantial data indicate mitochondrial dysfunction, particularly of complex I of the electron transport chain, in some patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), and it appears likely that mitochondria contribute to the pathogenic processes that occurs in this disorder. Treatments targeted at mitochondrial function hold promise to slow the progression of PD. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. and Mitochondria Research Society. All rights reserved.