Episode Details

Neurodegeneration can feel like an unstoppable train, where treatment is often about managing symptoms instead of fixing what’s breaking upstream. In this episode of The Energy Code, Dr. Mike Belkowski and co-host Don Bailey unpack a 2025 review on mitochondrial dysfunction as a common thread across major neurodegenerative diseases and why this “cellular infrastructure problem” may be the leverage point researchers are finally targeting.    You’ll get clear, memorable analogies for how energy production fails (oxidative phosphorylation), why Complex I dysfunction shows up so often in Parkinson’s, and why ROS isn’t “bad” until it becomes a wildfire.  From there, they walk through mitochondrial quality control (fission, fusion, and mitophagy) plus the underrated issue of mitochondrial transport in long neurons.   
Finally, we break down what’s being explored right now: mitochondria-targeted antioxidants, metabolic interventions, photobiomodulation, biogenesis strategies (PGC-1α), and emerging frontiers like mitochondrial transplantation and gene editing—with a grounded take on what’s promising vs. what’s still early. - Key Points

• Neurodegeneration is increasingly being viewed as an upstream mitochondrial dysfunction problem and not just a symptom-management problem. 

• The brain is an extreme energy consumer, so neurons are uniquely vulnerable when ATP production drops. 

• Oxidative phosphorylation failure reduces cellular power and sets the stage for degeneration.

• In Parkinson’s, Complex I impairment is a recurring theme → less ATP + more oxidative stress.

• ROS isn’t inherently bad — it’s signaling vs “wildfire” oxidative stress when defenses get overwhelmed. 

• Mitochondrial “quality control” (fission, fusion, mitophagy) is central; breakdown accelerates damage. 

• Neurons depend on mitochondrial transport down long axons; transport failure can starve synapses first. 

• Emerging interventions include mitochondria-targeted antioxidants, biogenesis/repair pathways, and mitochondria-relevant trials (including photobiomodulation) promising, but still evolving.

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Key Quotes From Dr. Mike

• “Fission is like splitting dough into separate pizzas. Too much fission is like cutting everything into tiny crumbs.” 

• “Too little fission is like refusing to separate the burnt part… it ruins the whole batch.” 

• “This is the recycling program… Tag it, bag it, take it out.” 

• “PGC-1 alpha is like the head contractor for building new power plants.” 

• “If demand doubles, you can’t keep running on the same number of servers… you need more infrastructure.”

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Article Referenced in Episode:

Mitochondrial-based therapies for neurodegenerative diseases: a review of the current literature

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Episode Timeline

• 00:00 — Cold open + show intro (“The Energy Code” mission / mitochondrial matrix) 

• 00:45 — The “unstoppable train” problem: symptoms vs upstream causes 

• 02:00 — Why mitochondria matter in the brain (energy hog / “city that never sleeps”) 

• 04:00 — Quick definitions: Alzheimer’s vs Parkinson’s vs ALS 

• 05:30 — Oxidative phosphorylation explained (dam/turbine analogy) 

• 08:00 — Parkinson’s spotlight: Complex I disruption + downstream