Psychosocial Experiences and Human Brain Mitochondrial Biology: Emerging Evidence Linking Mind, Metabolism, and Neural Energy Systems (2024–2025)
Psychosocial Experiences and Human Brain Mitochondrial Biology: Emerging Evidence Linking Mind, Metabolism, and Neural Energy Systems (2024–2025) Author : KJ Lavan ⸻ Abstract Recent multidisciplinary research reveals that psychosocial experiences—ranging from chronic stress to purpose, meaning, and positive affect—are biologically embedded in human brain mitochondrial function. Mitochondria, long viewed as mere energy producers, are now recognized as dynamic transducers between psychological states and cellular energy metabolism. The present review synthesizes the most recent evidence, integrating 2024 PNAS postmortem brain proteomic findings with 2025 Nature Metabolism and Psychoneuroendocrinology stress-reactivity studies. Collectively, these data reveal that psychosocial experiences predict distinct patterns in mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos) abundance, circulating mitochondrial biomarkers, and stress-sensitive endocri...