Supplement could restore memories lost by Alzheimer’s, study finds

A naturally occurring supplement could restore memory loss in Alzheimer’s, a mouse study using human gene mutations suggests.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is a molecule vital for energy production, DNA repair and cellular health, often discussed by longevity specialists as a tool against age-related disease.

Researchers have discovered it can protect the brain from degeneration caused by Alzheimer’s disease.

Lead author Dr Alice Ruixue Ai, an Alzheimer’s researcher at the University of Oslo, said: “Preliminary studies have shown that supplementation with NAD+ precursors, such as (NR) or nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), can offer therapeutic benefits in AD [Alzheimer’s disease] animal models and early clinical trials.

“However, the molecular mechanisms behind these benefits remain largely unclear.”

NAD+ naturally declines with age, and it is believed that poor lifestyle choices — including eating a highly processed diet, smoking, drinking alcohol and getting sunburnt — can further diminish the body’s reserves.

The team engineered mice to carry the human Tau P301S mutation that causes neurodegeneration and memory loss.

These mice showed clear memory deficits in a standard behavioural test.

When they gave the mice nicotinamide mononucleotide, a compound that raises NAD+ levels, they found evidence that memory performance returned to normal.

In Alzheimer’s disease, abnormal tau — a misfolded protein that clumps in the brain — is a hallmark of the condition.

The team’s research suggests NAD+ acts through a previously unidentified RNA splicing pathway. RNA carries instructions for building proteins; RNA splicing is the natural editing step that shapes those instructions.

They first saw age-related changes in RNA splicing in a species of worm, then showed that NAD+ could correct splicing problems driven by toxic tau.

Tests in mice indicated this pathway is regulated by a protein called EVA1C, which plays a key role in RNA splicing.

When NAD+ levels rise, EVA1C helps correct splicing errors. This restoration process, involving hundreds of genes, may help reverse damage caused by tau.

Associate professor Evandro Fei Fang-Stavem, said: “Notably, we found when the EVA1C gene was knocked down, these benefits were lost, confirming that EVA1C is essential for NAD+ mediated neuroprotection.

“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,” added Dr Ai.

NAD+ has gained popularity among longevity enthusiasts and celebrities.

In 2022, Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner discussed NAD+ IV drips in the first series of The Kardashians.

NAD+ infusion treatments are available in the UK at specialised wellness clinics.

There are also NAD+ supplements, kits and at-home injections emerging on the market.

Biohacker and longevity entrepreneur Bryan Johnson — who is 47 but claims to have the biological markers of a man in his 30s — also includes NMN supplements in his anti-ageing regimen.