NAD+ and Longevity: The tiny molecule that helps us age better

When it comes to living a longer and healthier life, scientists are finding that some of the answers lie inside our own cells. One of the biggest stars in longevity research right now is something called NAD+. It may sound complicated, but it is actually a natural molecule that your body makes every day and it plays a huge role in how well we age.

What is NAD+?

NAD+ stands for Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide. In very simple terms it's a helper molecule found in every single cell of the body.

Think of NAD+ as the charger that keeps your cellular batteries full. Without it the tiny engines inside your cells ( called mitochondria) can't make enough energy to keep you going. (Yoshino et al., 2018)

NAD+ does much more than give you energy. It helps:

1. Produce energy - fuels your cells so you can move, think and live. (Rajman et al., 2018)

2. Repair DNA - fixes everyday damage to your genetic material which keeps cells younger. (Verdin, 2015).

3. Switch on Longevity genes - NAD+ activates special proteins called sirtuins that protect against stress, inflammation and age related decline. (Imai & Guarente, 2014)

4.Support immunity - helps the body fight infections and calm harmful inflammation. (Canto et al., 2015)

Why does NAD+ matter for aging?

NAD+ levels naturally decline as we get older. By middle age, our NAD+ levels may be half of what they were in our youth. (Rajman et al., 2018)

When NAD+ runs low

Our energy drops
Cells repair themselves more slowly
DNA damage builds up
Inflammation increases
Aging speeds up

(Verdin, 2015)

This drop in NAD+ is one reason why we don't feel as strong, sharp or resilient as the years go by.

Can Boosting NAD+ help us live longer?

Restoring NAD+ levels in animal studies has demonstrated impressive results:

Mice with higher NAD+ lived healthier and more energetic lives.
Their muscles, brains and metabolism stayed younger for longer.
Some even showed signs of slowed or reversed aging at the cellular level.

(Yoshino et al., 2018)

In humans, research is still early, but there are promising clues:

Some studies show that raising NAD+ may improve blood pressure, heart health and immune function. (Martens et al., 2018)

One recent clinical trial suggested NAD+ might help ‘’turn back the clock’’ on some markers of immune aging. (Henderson et al., 2023)

That said, we don't yet have proof that NAD+ supplements can make people live significantly longer. What we do know is that NAD+ supports many of the body’s most important defenses against aging.

How to support healthy NAD+ levels?

While scientists are still studying the best ways to boost NAD+, here are some things you can do right now:

Exercise regularly: movement helps your cells maintain healthier NAD+. (Canto et al., 2015).
Eat well: foods with vitamin B3 provide building blocks for NAD+.(Rajman et al., 2018).
Sleep and recover: rest supports your body’s repair systems.
Intermittent fasting or calorie control: may naturally stimulates NAD+ and longevity pathways
Supplements: Longevita™ compounds like Nicotinamide Riboside (NR) and Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN) are being studied as NAD+ boosters. (Yoshino et al., 2018)

The bottom line

NAD+ is one of the most important molecules in your body - powering your cells, repairing damage and activating longevity genes. As we age, our NAD+ levels fall, but keeping them healthy may be key to feeling younger for longer.

While it’s not a magic pill for immortality, supporting NAD+ through lifestyle (and supplements like Longevita™, with guidance) is one of the most exciting and practical steps we can take today for better health tomorrow.

References:
Yoshino, J., Baur, J. A., & Imai, S. I. (2018). NAD+ Intermediates: The Biology and Therapeutic Potential of NMN and NR. Cell metabolism, 27(3), 513–528. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2017.11.002

Verdin E. (2015). NAD⁺ in aging, metabolism, and neurodegeneration. Science (New York, N.Y.), 350(6265), 1208–1213. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aac4854

Rajman, L., Chwalek, K., & Sinclair, D. A. (2018). Therapeutic Potential of NAD-Boosting Molecules: The In Vivo Evidence. Cell metabolism, 27(3), 529–547. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2018.02.011

Martens, C. R., Denman, B. A., Mazzo, M. R., Armstrong, M. L., Reisdorph, N., McQueen, M. B., Chonchol, M., & Seals, D. R. (2018). Chronic nicotinamide riboside supplementation is well-tolerated and elevates NAD+ in healthy middle-aged and older adults. Nature communications, 9(1), 1286. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-03421-7

Imai, S., & Guarente, L. (2014). NAD+ and sirtuins in aging and disease. Trends in cell biology, 24(8), 464–471. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tcb.2014.04.002

Li, F., Wu, C., & Wang, G. (2024). Targeting NAD Metabolism for the Therapy of Age-Related Neurodegenerative Diseases. Neuroscience bulletin, 40(2), 218–240. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12264-023-01072-3

Cantó, C., Menzies, K. J., & Auwerx, J. (2015). NAD(+) Metabolism and the Control of Energy Homeostasis: A Balancing Act between Mitochondria and the Nucleus. Cell metabolism, 22(1), 31–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2015.05.023