Evidence supporting the use of: Nicotinamide riboside
For the health condition: Senility

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Nicotinamide riboside (NR) is a form of vitamin B3 and a precursor to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), a molecule crucial for cellular energy metabolism and DNA repair. There is growing scientific interest in NR as a potential intervention for age-related cognitive decline, sometimes referred to as "senility." Preclinical studies in animal models have shown that NR supplementation can increase NAD+ levels in the brain, enhance mitochondrial function, reduce neuroinflammation, and improve markers of cognitive performance. These effects are believed to counteract some of the cellular and molecular changes associated with aging and neurodegeneration.

However, clinical evidence in humans remains limited. Small pilot studies and early-phase clinical trials have demonstrated that NR is safe and effectively raises NAD+ levels in older adults. Some studies suggest potential benefits for brain health, such as improved neural bioenergetics and reduced markers of age-related neuronal stress, but robust, large-scale randomized controlled trials directly assessing the impact of NR on cognitive decline or senility in humans are lacking as of 2024. Thus, while there is a plausible biological rationale and some encouraging preliminary data, the evidence supporting NR’s use for senility is currently modest. More rigorous human studies are needed to confirm its efficacy in this context.

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