Is NAD+ the Future of Longevity?

The concept of “aging well” is misleading. Society expects us to never look or feel our age. Therapies across the globe claim they’re touting the next elixir of life: “You want to live forever? There’s a quick fix for that!” But this is the real world. No magical forces are at play, and we’re not getting any younger.

In fact, quite the opposite. Even the American median age is increasing. It now sits at 38.9 years, according to the United States Census Bureau, thanks to declining birth rates and baby boomers.

Essentially, we’re living longer, but what good is living longer if we’re not healthy enough to enjoy it? Longevity science is dying to know.

Studies investigating proteins, like sirtuins, are bringing NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) to the forefront of longevity discussions. As a coenzyme signaling molecule, NAD+ is a central player in cell function. NAD+ levels decline with age, and lower levels appear to negatively affect important metabolic processes. NAD+ levels impact sirtuin activity – key proteins linked to aging, metabolism, and circadian rhythms. NAD+ dysregulation is often present in diseases related to oxidative stress or damage, such as conditions of the heart and brain.

Additionally, breakdown of our cells’ powerhouses, mitochondria, can be connected to age-related decline. Supplementing with NAD+ may help strengthen mitochondrial activity, opening the door for patients to experience potential increases in energy, endurance, and sleep quality.

While it’s important to research what may help us live longer, we must also acknowledge what’s contributing to our mortality. Over the course of our lifetime, millions will die from conditions related to elevated body weight.

Obesity is often fueled by food addiction, and a connection between NAD+ levels and obesity may reveal untapped potential for dietary control. Without a doubt, lifestyle modifications are the cornerstone of successful weight management. It can also be true that these changes may not be enough for patients, as therapeutic options can’t always compete with climbing scales.

Studies show NAD+ therapy may address cravings and withdrawal symptoms in patients struggling with addiction. From oxidative stress to metabolism issues, addictive behaviors can be harmful. Intracellular NAD+ can impact the brain’s reward system, whether an addiction is related to substance abuse or a person’s relationship to food. Research is ongoing to better understand its role.

Longevity science and NAD+ therapy offer a unique and compelling approach to health. Are you ready to help your patients experience it?

References

1. “America Is Getting Older.” United States Census Bureau, 22 June 2023, www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2023/population-estimates-characteristics.html.
2. Bischof E, Scheibye-Knudsen M, Siow R, Moskalev A. Longevity medicine: upskilling the physicians of tomorrow. Lancet Healthy Longev. 2021 Apr;2(4):e187-e188. doi: 10.1016/S2666-7568(21)00024-6. Epub 2021 Mar 12. PMID: 36098117.
3. Braidy N, Villalva MD, van Eeden S. Sobriety and Satiety: Is NAD+ the Answer? Antioxidants (Basel). 2020 May 14;9(5):425. doi: 10.3390/antiox9050425. PMID: 32423100; PMCID: PMC7278809.
4. Cantó C, Menzies KJ, Auwerx J. NAD(+) Metabolism and the Control of Energy Homeostasis: A Balancing Act between Mitochondria and the Nucleus. Cell Metab. 2015 Jul 7;22(1):31-53. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2015.05.023. Epub 2015 Jun 25. PMID: 26118927; PMCID: PMC4487780.
5. Chu X, Raju RP. Regulation of NAD+ metabolism in aging and disease. Metabolism. 2022 Jan;126:154923. doi: 10.1016/j.metabol.2021.154923. Epub 2021 Oct 28. PMID: 34743990; PMCID: PMC8649045.
6. Imai S, Guarente L. NAD+ and sirtuins in aging and disease. Trends Cell Biol. 2014 Aug;24(8):464-71. doi: 10.1016/j.tcb.2014.04.002. Epub 2014 Apr 29. PMID: 24786309; PMCID: PMC4112140.
7. Ryan A. Lafferty, Peter R. Flatt, Nigel Irwin. Is polypharmacy the future for pharmacological management of obesity?, Current Opinion in Endocrine and Metabolic Research, Volume 23, 2022, 100322, ISSN 2451-9650, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coemr.2022.100322.