Patient Care

Mitochondrial diseases are a group of common diseases and conditions that affect the mitochondria, which are specialized compartments within cells that are responsible for creating most of the body's energy.

Hereditary mitochondrial diseases result from mitochondrial dysfunction through DNA mutation. Mitochondrial dysfunction is also associated with aging and age-related diseases, such as dementia, diabetes and cancer, through mechanisms that are not yet well understood. Mitochondrial diseases encompass a broad spectrum of diseases with various symptoms that may affect any organ in the body. Most common symptoms include seizure, stroke, memory loss, muscle weakness, cardiac problems, diabetes and hearing loss.

Both adults and children can be affected by mitochondrial diseases. There is no cure for mitochondrial disorders, but diet and medications can help improve outcomes and quality of life.

Mayo Clinic offers a wide range of clinical treatments and services for patients with mitochondrial dysfunction and diseases. Both patients and medical professionals can request appointments and referrals to Mayo Clinic.

Patients can be referred for evaluation and coordination of multidisciplinary services from providers in the Mitochondrial Disease Clinic within the Department of Clinical Genomics, based at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

Read more about the Mitochondrial Disease Clinic.

Mayo Clinic works with hundreds of insurance companies and is an in-network provider for millions of people. In most cases, Mayo Clinic doesn't require a physician referral. Some insurers require referrals or may have additional requirements for certain medical care. All appointments are prioritized based on medical need.

For patients

Find appointment contact information for the Mayo Clinic location near you, including toll-free telephone numbers and hours of operation, along with online request forms for both U.S. patients and international patients.

Make an appointment at Mayo Clinic.

For medical professionals

Medical professionals can request patient referrals to Mayo Clinic using the online physician referring system.