NAD+ and science

NAD+ and ageing: what the research actually shows

GP-led and medically reviewed by our clinical team
Published 15 October 2026 · 6 min read

NAD+ is involved in making energy, repairing DNA and helping cells cope with stress. All of these work less well as we age. Researchers asked a simple question: if NAD+ falls with age, would putting it back help?

The short answer

NAD+ levels seem to fall with age, and in mice, boosting them improved some signs of ageing. In people, studies show NAD+ levels can be raised safely in the short term, but none yet show that this slows ageing or helps anyone live longer.

What the animal studies found

Most of the excitement comes from research in mice and other animals:

NAD+ levels fall in many tissues as animals age.
Giving older mice NAD+ precursors improved some measures of muscle function, energy use and blood sugar control.
Effects on lifespan were small and not seen in every study.

Animal studies are an important first step, but many treatments that work in mice don’t work in people. Mice live for 2 to 3 years, are bred to be alike, and are often given doses that would be very different in a human.

What the human studies found

Human studies have mostly tested NR and NMN supplements, with a few small studies of NAD+ drips. So far:

Supplements and drips can raise NAD+ levels in the blood.
They seem to be well tolerated in the short term.
Most studies are small, with tens of people rather than thousands, and last weeks or months.
Some found small changes in measures such as blood sugar control or muscle markers. Others found no clear change.
No study has shown that people age more slowly, stay healthier for longer or live longer.

What we don’t know yet

Whether raising NAD+ in the blood changes levels inside the tissues that matter
Whether any benefit seen in mice carries over to people
What the effects are of taking NAD+ or its precursors for years
Whether boosting NAD+ could affect conditions where cells grow fast, such as cancer. Researchers have raised this question, and there is no clear human evidence either way.

How to read NAD+ headlines

Check who was studied. Mice, cells in a dish and people give very different levels of proof.
Check what was measured. Higher NAD+ in the blood is not the same as better health.
Check the size and length. A 30-person, 8-week study is a starting point, not an answer.
Check who is selling. Be wary of anyone promising younger cells or a longer life.

Where that leaves NAD+ drips

NAD+ is a genuinely interesting area of research, and that is why many people want to try it. We think you should know exactly where the science stands: promising early work, but no proof yet of benefits for people who are already well.

If you want to try NAD+

NAD+ 250£375 in clinic · £475 at home NAD+ shot£150 in clinic · £250 at home

Still not sure?

Message us and we will help you decide, even if the answer is a blood test or your GP rather than a drip.

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This guide is general information, not a diagnosis. If you are worried about a symptom, speak to your GP or call NHS 111. In an emergency, call 999.