Scientists might have discovered a potential way to reverse Alzheimer’s disease through experiments on animals.
A study spearheaded by University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center revealed that restoring central energy molecules in the brain cells of mice helped to reverse brain changes and other indicators of the disease, including cognitive decline. Researchers explored two models of Alzheimer’s disease in mice and analyzed human brain tissue, finding significantly lower levels of NAD+.
Andrew A. Pieper, M.D., who is the director of the Center for Brain Health Medicine at the University Hospitals Harrington Discovery Institute in Cleveland, Ohio, stated that NAD+, an enzyme crucial for energy production and cell maintenance, naturally decreases with age. “When NAD+ levels drop below what’s needed, cells struggle to perform essential maintenance and survival functions efficiently,” he shared.
Dr. Charles Brenner, chief scientific advisor at Niagen, a company focused on enhancing NAD+ levels, explained that NAD+ is vital for organs with high energy demands, especially the brain, which accounts for about 20% of the body’s energy use. He emphasized that NAD+ is key for neurons to adapt to various stressors, thus supporting overall brain health.
The researchers encountered surprising results; advanced Alzheimer’s symptoms in mice were significantly reversed with restored NAD+ levels, even without directly targeting amyloid plaques. “This gives us reason to be cautiously optimistic that similar strategies might benefit humans someday,” Pieper added.
This study builds on earlier findings indicating that restoring NAD+ levels can aid recovery after severe traumatic brain injuries. It was a collaborative effort with Case Western Reserve University and the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, recently published in Cell Reports Medicine.
Risks and limitations
The researchers noted that their study was limited to a mouse model, which may not translate directly to human conditions. “Alzheimer’s is a complex, multifactorial disease unique to humans,” Pieper cautioned, emphasizing that success in animals doesn’t assure similar outcomes in people.
While several drugs have undergone testing for slowing Alzheimer’s progression, none have been specifically evaluated for promoting recovery in humans. The authors also alerted that commercially available NAD+ supplements could elevate cellular NAD+ levels excessively, which has been linked to cancer in some animal studies.
Pieper recommended that anyone considering supplements to regulate NAD+ consult their doctor about potential risks and benefits. They also highlighted that lifestyle changes have been shown to boost brain resilience. This includes getting adequate sleep, adhering to a MIND or Mediterranean diet, staying both mentally and physically active, maintaining social ties, managing hearing loss, protecting against head injuries, limiting alcohol, and controlling cardiovascular risk factors.
The researchers plan to continue exploring how brain energy balance affects cognitive health and will investigate if this approach could also prove effective against other age-related neurodegenerative diseases.
