My Alzheimer's Journey
Part 39 - NAD+ Research
Prominent figures such as Hailey Bieber, Kendall Jenner, and Jennifer Aniston have publicly shared their experiences with NAD+ therapies. “I’m going to NAD for the rest of my life, and I’m never going to age,” declared Hailey Bieber. (Did you notice that she has made NAD a verb?) These wealthy celebrities receive their NAD+ through an infusion. The cost is about $1000 for a 1000mg infusion.
If that price tag is a tad steep for you, Amazon sells sixty 500mg capsules of NAD+ supplement for $29.95. Vitastir sells a kit containing 20 injections of NAD+ for $449 (on sale for $175.) The advantage of the injection over capsules is bioavailability and speed of effect.
Why is there so much interest in NAD+ ?
The celebrities using NAD+ and the spas selling NAD+ talk about the anti-aging and wellness benefits. An infusion center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina says NAD+ is important to fulfill a number of key functions “like muscular movement, blood circulation, DNA repair, metabolism, energy levels, and mitochondrial function.”
Does it work?
“We just don’t know if there’s any benefit to it,” says Neil Paulvin, New York-based longevity and regenerative medicine doctor. He goes on to say, “[NAD+] helps the mitochondria produce energy in the body. We know that some [infusions] may increase the NAD in the bloodstream, but not in the cell as much.”
Many doctors say any perceived benefit is likely a strong placebo effect.
Are there side effects?
With an infusion, you can experience symptoms like a burning sensation, nausea, brain fog and cloudiness. The most common side effects of oral supplements include nausea, headaches, fatigue, and digestive issues.
In my research, I learned that you can increase levels of NAD+ in your body without supplements. Exercising is an effective (and free) way to increase your NAD+ levels. Eating avocados, meat and edamame will naturally increase the coenzyme.
What does this have to do with Alzheimer’s disease?
NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, oxidized form) is a coenzyme found in all living cells. It is a vital metabolite involved in energy metabolism and neuronal resilience in the body. It normally declines with age and especially in various neurodegenerative diseases (like, Alzheimer’s).
Studies have shown that boosting NAD+ can protect the brain from the degeneration associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Other recent studies have shown that supplementation with NAD+ precursors, such as nicotinamide riboside (NR) or nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), can offer therapeutic benefits in AD animal models and early clinical trials. While these studies show potential, the role of NAD+ in AD is still unclear.
You can bet that as long as money can be made, NAD+ will thrive as an anti-aging treatment. Let’s hope future research discovers NAD+ is an effective AD treatment.
