12/20/2025
When we talk about neuro autoimmunity, most people focus only on the brain. The truth is every neurological condition begins with the gut. If the gut barrier is compromised, the blood brain barrier often follows. Leaky gut and leaky brain are two sides of the same coin.
But there is a third piece that almost never gets discussed.
⚡ Leaky mitochondria
Mitochondria are not only energy producers. They also act as immune sensors. When they become dysfunctional, they leak ATP into the space outside the cell. ATP should never be there. Once it leaks out, the body interprets it as a danger signal. This triggers the cell danger response and alerts your immune system to attack what it believes is a threat.
🧬 This is how self-tissue becomes a target
The immune system is simply responding to a distress signal. Over time, repeated ATP leakage can push the body toward autoimmunity and neuro autoimmunity. This pattern shows up in neurologic conditions, chronic fatigue, and even long COVID.
🐠 Think of mitochondria like a goldfish bag that slowly drips
It does not burst all at once. It leaks just enough to disrupt the environment. That small leak can change the entire immune landscape of the body.
🔥 Mitochondrial health sits at the core of all chronic disease
Cancer, neurodegeneration, autoimmunity, energy production. It all comes back to mitochondrial performance. If we are not evaluating and supporting mitochondrial health, we are missing a fundamental pillar of functional medicine.
The mitochondria tell the story long before symptoms do.
