Mitochondrial Health After Spinal Cord Injury: Measuring Techniques and Role of Exercise (824581)

Friday, October 23, 2020

2:00 PM – 3:15 PM EST

Presenter(s)

Ashraf S. Gorgey, MPT, PhD, FACSM, FACRM

Director of Spinal Cord Injury Research
Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center
Richmond, Virginia

Presentation Slides Presentation + Audio
Raymond E. Lai, PharmD, PhD

Post Doctoral Fellow
Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center
Richmond, Virginia

Presentation Slides Presentation + Audio
Kevin K. McCully, PhD

Professor in Kinesiology Department
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia

Presentation Slides Handouts Presentation + Audio

Mitochondrial function and activity are linked to several metabolic and cardiovascular diseases in the general population. Spinal cord injury is likely to reduce mitochondrial density and activity. Techniques available to measure mitochondrial functions may vary from invasive to less invasive approaches. It is still unclear whether these techniques can be used interchangeably, or whether each modality may serve as a tool to reflect on different aspects on mitochondrial health. Furthermore, different promising exercise paradigms and pharmaceutical interventions may become available that are likely to enhance mitochondrial health after SCI. The symposium is going to summarize our current knowledge about mitochondrial health in persons with SCI and therapeutic approaches to attenuate the decline in their primary role as a main source of cellular energy production.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion, participants will be able to identify the link of association between mitochondrial health and cardio-metabolic disorders after SCI
Distinguish different techniques of measuring mitochondrial activity after SCI
Upon completion, participants will be able to define the role of different exercise paradigms on mitochondrial health after SCI