Beyond the NMN Hype: Rethinking the NAD⁺ Approach for Longevity
“Just take NMN” might be the new “sleep when you're dead.”
In the longevity world, NAD⁺ is everywhere. Individuals are taking NR or NMN like it’s a hack to a healthier, longer life. But here’s the catch: the science now tells us that NAD⁺ decline is far more complex than a simple deficiency. And worse, if we treat it like a vitamin gap to be filled, we might actually be feeding the very processes we’re trying to fight.
The excitement around NAD⁺ is real. The strategy? Often not so much.
NAD⁺ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is critical for energy production, DNA repair, and metabolic function. Its levels decline with age, and that’s been linked to everything from fatigue to neurodegeneration.
Naturally, this made NAD⁺ precursors like NMN and NR an attractive option. People have latched onto precursor supplementation as a silver bullet.
But a growing body of research suggests the “take more precursors” model is overly simplistic.
Supplementing without a system is like pouring water into a leaky bucket.
In older or stressed cells, NAD⁺ isn’t just low, it’s being used up and poorly recycled.
Hyperactive enzymes like CD38 and PARPs consume NAD⁺ at higher rates in response to inflammation, DNA damage, and cellular stress. Meanwhile, key recycling mechanisms - like the NAMPT pathway - often slow down with age.
That means your £80 NMN capsules might give you a short-lived boost… before the NAD⁺ gets eaten up by overactive enzymes and degraded beyond repair. You're not restoring function, you’re fueling dysfunction.
A smarter path: Target the whole NAD⁺ ecosystem.
Instead of relying on precursors alone, the emerging science supports a multi-target strategy - a systems approach to restore cellular resilience and metabolic performance.
That looks like:
Inhibiting CD38 - to slow NAD⁺ overconsumption
Activating NAMPT - to improve recycling
Inhibiting NNMT - to reduce NAD⁺ waste
Clearing senescent cells - to lower chronic inflammation and metabolic dysfunction
Inducing a caloric deficit - through fasting or exercise, to activate NAD⁺ pathways naturally
Together, these create a more sustainable, long-term restoration of NAD⁺ levels and the cellular health that comes with it.
The real question isn’t “Should I take NMN?”
It’s: What’s driving my NAD⁺ decline in the first place?
Individuals don’t need another shiny molecule. We need targeted, evidence-based frameworks that address root causes - not just symptoms.
Because longevity isn’t about hacks. It’s about systems.