The Potential of NAD+ in Fighting Alzheimer’s
A supplement that has gained popularity among biohackers and celebrities may hold the key to restoring lost memory in Alzheimer’s patients, according to new research. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is a naturally occurring molecule in the body that plays a crucial role in energy production, DNA repair, and cellular health. Longevity experts have long praised NAD+ as a potential weapon against age-related diseases.
However, NAD+ levels naturally decline with age, and factors such as poor lifestyle choices—including consuming a highly processed diet, smoking, drinking alcohol, and getting sunburnt—can further deplete the body’s reserves. A recent study conducted by an international team of scientists from the University of Oslo suggests that NAD+ could protect the brain from degeneration caused by Alzheimer’s disease.
The researchers engineered mice to have the human Tau P301S mutation, which leads to neurodegeneration and memory loss. These mice exhibited clear memory deficits, which were observed through standard behavioral tests. The team then administered nicotinamide mononucleotide, a substance known to boost NAD+ levels, and found evidence that the mice’s memory skills returned to normal levels.
Their findings, published in the journalScience Advancesunder the title “NAD+ reverses Alzheimer’s neurological deficits via regulating differential alternative RNA splicing of RVA1C,” reveal a new mechanism by which NAD+ could combat Alzheimer’s.
In Alzheimer’s disease, the presence of abnormal tau—a faulty or misfolded protein—is a defining characteristic of the illness. The research uncovered that NAD+ works through a previously unknown RNA-splicing pathway. RNA, a single-stranded molecule, acts as a messenger that carries instructions for building proteins. RNA splicing, a natural process influenced by supplements, edits these instructions.
The team first identified age-related changes in RNA splicing in a species of worm and later found that NAD+ could correct splicing issues caused by toxic tau. Testing on mice revealed that this correction occurs through a pathway regulated by a protein called EVA1C, which plays a vital role in RNA splicing.
They discovered that when NAD+ levels are increased, EVA1C helps correct mistakes in RNA splicing. This restoration process, which involves hundreds of genes, can help reverse damage caused by tau.
Dr. Alice Ruixue Ai, the lead author of the study and an Alzheimer’s researcher at the University of Oslo, noted: “Preliminary 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. However, the molecular mechanisms behind these benefits remain largely unclear.”
Associate Professor Evandro Fei Fang-Stavem, another researcher from the same university, added: “Notably, we found that when the EVA1C gene was knocked down, these benefits were lost, confirming that EVA1C is essential for NAD+ mediated neuroprotection.”
Dr. Ai continued: “We propose that maintaining NAD⁺ levels could help preserve neuronal identity and delay cognitive decline, paving the way for combination treatments to enhance RNA splicing.”
The research was conducted in collaboration with Professor Oscar Junhong Luo from Jinan University in China and Associate Professor Joana M. Silva from the University of Minho in Portugal.
Longevity experts have often referred to NAD+ as “the fountain of youth,” and one of its most famous advocates shares this view. In 2022, Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner brought NAD+ into the spotlight by discussing the treatment in the first series ofThe Kardashians. Bieber famously stated, “I’m gonna NAD for the rest of my life, and I’m never gonna age.”
While NAD+ infusion treatments are available in the UK at specialized wellness clinics, they come at a high cost, ranging from £150 to £800 per session depending on the dose. There are also NAD+ supplements, kits, and at-home injections emerging on the market. For example, MitoQ’s NAD+ dual action is priced at £44.16 per month.
Biohacker and longevity entrepreneur Bryan Johnson, who claims to have the biological markers of a man in his 30s despite being 47, includes NMN supplements in his anti-aging regimen.
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