Betterhumans provides an update on some of the more interesting research into mitochondrial regeneration. "Halting aging and the development of diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's may one day be as simple as seeing the doctor for a mitochondrial 'tune up.' The tune up, currently in the early stages of development, would repair mutations that occur in mitochondria and are believed to contribute to many afflictions, from diabetes to heart disease." The timeline is still long, however: "Once we prove the efficacy of [mitochondrial DNA repair] in animals, we need to show that it works in humans and then expand its use to other conditions, which should be enough to keep us busy for the next 15 to 20 years."
Link: http://www.betterhumans.com/News/news.aspx?articleID=2005-02-23-3