Therapeutic potential of boosting NAD+ in aging and age-related diseases

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD + ) is an essential cofactor in all living cells that is involved in fundamental biological processes. NAD + depletion has been associated with hallmarks of aging and may underlie a wide-range of age-related diseases, such as metabolic disorders, cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Emerging evidence implicates that elevation of NAD + levels may slow or even reverse the aspects of aging and also delay the progression of age-related diseases. Here we discuss the roles of NAD + -synthesizing and -consuming enzymes in relationships to aging and major age-related diseases. Specifically, we highlight the contribution of NAD + depletion to aging and evaluate how boosting NAD + levels may emerge as a promising therapeutic strategy to counter aging-associated pathologies and/or accelerated aging.