NAD+

NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) is an essential coenzyme found in every living cell, playing a critical role in cellular energy production, DNA repair, and metabolic regulation. It serves as a key player in mitochondrial function and is essential for the activity of sirtuins, proteins that regulate cellular health and aging.

NAD+ levels naturally decline with age, which has driven extensive research into NAD+ precursors like NR (Nicotinamide Riboside) and NMN (Nicotinamide Mononucleotide) as potential interventions for age-related decline. This research area continues to expand with ongoing clinical trials investigating cognitive function, metabolic health, and longevity outcomes.

Fun Facts & History

• Nobel Prize History: NAD was discovered in 1906, and research on it has contributed to multiple Nobel Prizes in chemistry and medicine
• The Energy Currency: NAD+ is involved in over 500 enzymatic reactions in your body—it's literally essential for life
• Harvard's Longevity Research: Dr. David Sinclair at Harvard has made NAD+ famous through his bestselling book and research on aging
• You Make It... Less: Your NAD+ levels drop by about 50% between ages 40 and 60
• The Sirtuins Connection: NAD+ is required for sirtuins to work—these are the "longevity genes" that regulate aging

Animal Research Findings

• Lifespan Studies: Mouse models show improved healthspan (not just lifespan) with NAD+ precursor supplementation
• Mitochondrial Function: Aged mice show restored mitochondrial function similar to young mice
• Cognitive Function: Rodent Alzheimer's models show improved memory and reduced tau pathology
• Cardiovascular: Mouse heart failure models show improved cardiac function
• Metabolic Health: Improved insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism in obese mice

Potential Future Applications (If Clinical Trials Succeed)

• Neurodegenerative Disease: Alzheimer's, Parkinson's (multiple Phase 2 trials ongoing)
• Cardiovascular: Heart failure, vascular aging
• Metabolic Disorders: Type 2 diabetes, obesity
• Healthy Aging: General longevity and healthspan extension
• Long COVID: Trials investigating NAD+ for post-viral fatigue

Year	Focus	Finding	Status
2025	Alzheimer's Research	7% reduction in tau protein markers	Phase 2
2024	Randomized Crossover	IgG/SIRT1 pathway modulation confirmed	Published
Ongoing	Cognitive Function	Multiple Phase 2 trials in progress	Active
Ongoing	Metabolic Health	Dose-dependent NAD+ increase (100-1250mg)	Active