NAD+ in muscles goes down with age, but exercise helps keep it up
Healthy aging and muscle function are positively associated with NAD+ abundance in humans
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
As people get older, a helpful molecule in their muscles called NAD+ tends to disappear, especially if they don’t move much. But older people who exercise a lot keep their NAD+ levels almost as high as young people.
Surprising Findings
Exercise-trained older adults had NAD+ levels nearly as high as young adults — despite being decades older.
Most assume NAD+ decline is inevitable with age, but this shows intense physical activity may almost completely offset it.
Practical Takeaways
Aim for at least 10,000 steps daily, with 13,000 as a target for optimal muscle metabolic health.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
As people get older, a helpful molecule in their muscles called NAD+ tends to disappear, especially if they don’t move much. But older people who exercise a lot keep their NAD+ levels almost as high as young people.
Surprising Findings
Exercise-trained older adults had NAD+ levels nearly as high as young adults — despite being decades older.
Most assume NAD+ decline is inevitable with age, but this shows intense physical activity may almost completely offset it.
Practical Takeaways
Aim for at least 10,000 steps daily, with 13,000 as a target for optimal muscle metabolic health.
Publication
Journal
Nature Aging
Year
2022
Authors
G. Janssens, L. Grevendonk, Ruben Zapata Perez, B. Schomakers, J. de Vogel-van den Bosch, J. Geurts, M. van Weeghel, P. Schrauwen, R. Houtkooper, J. Hoeks
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Claims (3)
Older people have lower levels of a key molecule in their muscles that helps keep cells healthy, especially if they're not active — but those who stay active, like endurance athletes, tend to keep their levels much higher.
Older adults who walk more steps each day tend to have higher levels of a key molecule in their muscles that's linked to youth and energy — especially if they hit over 13,000 steps, their levels look like those of young people. But if they take fewer than 7,500 steps, their levels are much lower.
Older adults with more NAD+ in their muscles tend to have better-functioning mitochondria, which are the energy factories in cells.