Why is brain health important?
Brain health—and particularly the aging brain— has become a topic of increasing interest as people continue to live longer. Current science shows us that the brain undergoes clear changes as you age. Like all your other vital organs, the cells in your brain need NAD+ to function properly. The NAD-boosting power of Tru Niagen® can help boost brain NAD+ and support those cells in all that they do.
Brain NAD+ declines with age
Your brain is divided into three main structures—the cerebrum, the cerebellum, and the brain stem. These structures include specialized areas such as the cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, thalamus, hypothalamus, pituitary gland, amygdala (aka the limbic system), pineal gland, and hippocampus, which all contribute to central nervous system function.
Even at rest, this three-pound organ consumes around 20% of your body’s energy. The tissues in your brain contribute to vital processes, including motor performance, cognition, speech, and memory. Essentially, everything you experience is processed through your brain, which arguably makes it the most important organ in your body.
It's well understood that NAD+ is vital in both cellular energy production and repair. Research has shown that NAD+ plays a key role in the way that neurons adapt to a range of physiological stressors and support processes associated with brain health.
Increased NAD+ has been implicated in healthy brain aging. The first human study to investigate NAD+ levels in the brain showed that brain NAD+ does indeed decline as you age.
Addresses the hallmarks of brain aging
In 2018, a review published in Cell Metabolism posited 10 hallmarks of brain aging, which include the following changes:
- Mitochondrial dysfunction
- Accumulated oxidative damage in cells
- Impaired cellular waste disposal
- Senescence (death) of neural and glial cells
- Compromised stress response
More clinical investigation is needed, but according to the review, “emerging findings are revealing linkages by which age-related NAD+ depletion is positively related to the 10 hallmarks of brain aging.”
NAD+ supports brain health as you age
Research supports the hypothesis that boosting cellular NAD+ may help neurons maintain healthy function as you age. A recent study showed an increase in brain NAD+ with supplementation of an NAD+ precursor like Niagen® (patented nicotinamide riboside, aka NR), the active supernutrient in Tru Niagen.
Consequently, it stands to reason that NAD+ precursors can help support healthy neurons in the brain. The maintenance of healthy neurons is directly linked to halting/slowing the 10 hallmarks of brain aging.
"With the clear preclinical benefits of NR observed in the brains of mice, I look forward to future clinical trial findings from testing in human subjects. In the meantime, the known ability of NR to enhance mitochondrial function and cellular energy makes it a top choice for my personal daily regimen."
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Want to dive deeper into the science of NAD+ and brain health?
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