An energetic view of stress: Focus on mitochondria.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review synthesizing theoretical and mechanistic links between mitochondrial biology and stress adaptation.
PubMed 29339091 · doi:10.1016/j.yfrne.2018.01.001
What was done
This narrative review synthesized mechanistic literature to conceptualize stress adaptation as an energy-driven biological process centered on mitochondrial function and signaling.
What was found
The abstract reports no empirical numbers or quantitative data. It outlines four primary connections: cellular energy is required across biological scales to sustain stress responses, mitochondria produce and metabolize steroid hormones including glucocorticoids, mitochondria dynamically respond to stress mediators, and experimental perturbation of mitochondrial function modifies behavioral and physiological stress responses.
Why it matters
The framework bridges cellular bioenergetics with behavioral neuroendocrinology, positioning mitochondrial health as a key mediator of stress resilience, neurocircuit function, and psychopathology.
Limits
The paper is a conceptual narrative review without systematic search criteria, quantitative meta-analysis, or primary clinical trial data. It does not provide empirical sample sizes or effect-size estimates.
Cited by
- supports Mitochondria synthesize hormones and signaling molecules in addition to generating ATP.