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A small molecule has been hailed as potentially promoting longevity and combating certain diseases — but experts are also calling for more research.

NAD+ (Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) — often nicknamed the “fountain of youth” — is a coenzyme that is essential for cellular survival, which naturally declines with age. In recent years, supplements designed to boost NAD+ levels have grown in popularity.

Last month, researchers led by the University of Oslo reviewed preclinical and clinical studies investigating the link between NAD+ and aging.

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The review, which was published in the journal Nature Aging, concluded that restoring NAD+ levels could help to promote healthy aging and potentially slow or treat neurodegenerative diseases.

Every cell in the body contains NAD+, which plays a “critical role” in body functions that are essential to survival.

Previous research has shown that patients with Alzheimer’s disease exhibit “notably low levels” of NAD+, the researchers noted — which aligns with the fact that NAD+ declines with age.

“NAD+ may hold the key to healthier aging and could protect us against diseases like Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease,” said Evandro Fei Fang-Stavem, an associate professor at the University of Oslo, in a press release. “However, we need further research on how to effectively utilize NAD+ in patient treatment.”

Benefits of NAD+

Research has shown that boosting NAD+ can improve mitochondrial and stem cell function, improve energy metabolism, enhance focus and mood, and support tissue repair, according to Dr. Amanda Kahn, a board-certified internist and longevity expert in New York City.

“From a longevity standpoint, NAD+ is one of the most central molecules in maintaining youthful cellular function,” she told Fox News Digital. “It activates … longevity pathways that protect against DNA damage and inflammation.”

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Boosting NAD+ also supports neuroprotection from Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, enhances insulin sensitivity, reduces inflammation, repairs skin, boosts immune defense and improves symptoms in long COVID patients, Kahn added.

While NAD+ itself is a large molecule that can’t cross into cells, NAD+ “precursors” can enter cells and then work to create NAD+. (iStock)

Dr. Halland Chen, a double board-certified physician in New York who specializes in longevity, reiterated that studies in both animals and early human models show that maintaining healthy NAD+ levels can improve energy metabolism, cognitive function and overall vitality.

“Restoring NAD+ is ultimately about cellular repair and mitochondrial optimization, not just an energy boost,” he told Fox News Digital. “Clinical experience shows that NAD+ therapy enhances energy, focus and endurance, while supporting detoxification and reducing oxidative stress from daily life, travel or poor sleep.”

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NAD+ also activates sirtuins, a group of longevity-related proteins that regulate DNA repair, cellular stress responses and gene expression, Chen said, although he noted that larger human studies are still needed.

Methods of boosting NAD+

In clinical studies, patients with age-related diseases have taken compounds designed to boost NAD+.

While NAD+ itself is a large molecule that can’t cross into cells, NAD+ “precursors” can enter cells and then work to create NAD+, experts confirm.

These precursors include nicotinamide riboside (NR) and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN). Most people take these NAD+ precursors in the form of pills, capsules or powders.

“Clinical experience shows that NAD+ therapy enhances energy, focus and endurance while supporting detoxification.”

“Oral NAD precursors can modestly raise NAD+ levels and are convenient for daily maintenance,” Khan said. “In contrast, injections or IV infusions bypass the gut and deliver NAD+ directly into circulation, leading to more rapid and noticeable effects on energy, focus and recovery.”

Khan also prescribes a weaker NAD+ nasal spray for patients who can’t tolerate needles, though she said the benefits are typically less pronounced.

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“In general, I find that combining daily oral precursors with weekly NAD+ injections offers the most comprehensive support for both intracellular and extracellular NAD stores,” she advised.

Chen noted that oral supplements are best for maintenance, while IV therapy is often chosen for a “rapid cellular reboot, post-travel recovery or enhanced performance.”

“Sessions typically last two to four hours and are administered as a series of three infusions within seven to 10 days, followed by monthly maintenance.”

A doctor noted that oral supplements are best for maintenance, while IV therapy is often chosen for a “rapid cellular reboot, post-travel recovery or enhanced performance.” (iStock)

NAD+ therapy tends to have the most benefit for those managing fatigue, metabolic dysfunction or neurological decline, as well as anyone seeking to enhance energy, focus and recovery, Chen said.

“In healthy adults, benefits are typically modest, but can be amplified when combined with optimized nutrition, exercise and sleep,” he added.

Risks and caveats

While NAD+ therapy is generally safe and well-tolerated, it can cause some mild side effects, according to Chen.

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“Headache, nausea or chest tightness can occur, especially during faster IV infusions, and typically resolve when the rate is slowed,” Chen, who is also chief medical innovation officer at the digital wellness platform Eden, told Fox News Digital.

“Injections or IV infusions bypass the gut and deliver NAD+ directly into circulation, leading to more rapid and noticeable effects on energy, focus and recovery,” a doctor said. (iStock)

“Most reactions are transient and self-limited, and therapy is considered safe under medical supervision,” the doctor added.

He advises caution for people with active liver or kidney disease, those with a personal or family history of cancer, and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

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Kahn noted that common side effects include mild redness, itching or tenderness at the injection site, “which is harmless and dissipates quickly.”

“Some patients notice a transient rush, lasting no more than 10 minutes, after taking an NAD+ injection due to a brief release of adrenaline and mitochondrial ATP,” she went on. “While not dangerous, it can feel uncomfortable if not anticipated.”

“If the core pillars — sleep, movement, nutrition, metabolic balance and stress regulation — are not in place, NAD+ therapy won’t deliver its full potential.”

When choosing a NAD+ product, quality matters more than quantity, according to multiple experts.

“Patients should look for clinically validated, third-party-tested formulations and start with lower doses to gauge tolerance,” Chen said.

NAD+ therapy isn’t a shortcut to health and longevity in and of itself, but one layer of a much larger foundation, according to the expert.

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“If the core pillars — sleep, movement, nutrition, metabolic balance and stress regulation — are not in place, NAD+ therapy won’t deliver its full potential,” he said. “It’s like pouring premium fuel into an engine that hasn’t been maintained — the energy source is there, but the system isn’t optimized to use it.”

NAD+ therapy isn’t a shortcut to health and longevity in and of itself, but one layer of a much larger foundation, according to experts. (iStock)

It’s important to speak with a doctor before starting a NAD+ regimen, experts agree.

“Your doctor needs to know about all supplements you plan to take, including NAD+, because it has strong biological effects,” Chen said. “Your doctor will evaluate your personal health risks and check your medications for potential interactions with NAD+ supplements.”

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Khan noted that because NAD+ interacts with metabolic and cellular pathways, dosing and timing should be individualized — “especially for those with cancer history, metabolic conditions or multiple medications.”

“A physician should help determine the appropriate delivery method, duration and monitor for response and tolerance,” she said.

The shingles vaccine is intended to prevent shingles, a painful rash caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, also known as herpes zoster — but a new study suggests that it could have major secondary benefits.

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have identified a potential link between the shingles vaccine and a reduced risk of developing vascular dementia.

The vaccine has also been associated with a significant decreased risk of cardiovascular events and death in people 50 and older.

Experts presented the findings last week at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, the site of IDWEEK 2025, a joint annual meeting of the leading infectious disease professional societies in the U.S.

The study authors examined health records from 174,000 adults in the U.S. They followed participants who received the vaccination over a span of three months up to seven years.

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Participants who received the shingles vaccine had about half the risk of developing vascular dementia.

They also had a 25% lower risk of heart attack or stroke, a 27% lower risk of blood clots and a 21% lower risk of death, according to a news release from the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

Shingles is a red, blistery, painful rash caused by the reactivation of the virus that causes chicken pox.  (iStock)

“Our study findings show that the shingles vaccine may help lower those risks, especially in people already at higher risk for heart attack or stroke,” presenting author Ali Dehghani, a doctor of internal medicine at Case Western Reserve University’s School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio, said in the IDSA report.

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Shingles is a red, blistery, painful rash caused by the reactivation of the virus that causes chicken pox. The latent varicella zoster virus lies dormant in the body after a person has chicken pox. It can become activated in later years, causing shingles, health experts told Fox News Digital.

Participants who received the shingles vaccine had about half the risk of developing vascular dementia. (iStock)

The condition can lead to cardiovascular and neurologic complications, previous studies have shown.

Shingles affects one out of three Americans, and more than 99% of those born before 1980 have had chicken pox, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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“Shingles is more than just a rash — it can raise the risk of serious problems for the heart and brain,” Dehghani said in the news release.

These latest findings build on past studies that indicate the vaccine may help protect individuals against shingles and related complications, according to infectious disease experts.

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“This very interesting study … supported prior evidence that the shingles vaccine may offer several benefits for general health, including against the development of dementia, in addition to preventing the very painful and common illness know as shingles,” Dr. Aaron Glatt, a spokesperson for the ISDA and a board-certified infectious disease physician at Mount Sinai South Nassau in Oceanside, New York, told Fox News Digital.

While more studies are needed, a doctor said, “It is very comforting to know that the shingles vaccine is certainly associated with overall significant health benefits beyond its intended purpose.” (iStock)

Although these findings are “very exciting and potentially clinically important,” Glatt — who was not involved in the study — noted that it’s not yet proven that these benefits are due to the shingles vaccine.

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There are a number of possible mechanisms that could contribute to this association, including decreased inflammation, the doctor pointed out.

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While more studies are needed, Glatt said, “It is very comforting to know that the shingles vaccine is certainly associated with overall significant health benefits beyond its intended purpose.”

The CDC recommends two doses of recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) to prevent shingles and related complications in adults aged 50 years and older, as well as for adults aged 19 and older who are or will be immunodeficient or immunosuppressed.