NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a coenzyme found in every single cell in your body, and it is not optional. It is central to how your cells produce energy, and it plays a role in aging-related pathways. At a basic level, NAD+ helps convert the food you eat into usable cellular energy through mitochondrial function, but that is only part of the story.

Where things get interesting is that NAD+ also acts as a required fuel source for enzymes involved in DNA repair and cellular stress responses, particularly sirtuins and PARPs (poly ADP-ribose polymerases). These systems are directly tied to how well your cells maintain themselves over time (Imai & Guarente, 2014; Verdin, 2015).

And yes, NAD+ levels decline with age.

This decline has been consistently observed across multiple tissues and is associated with reduced mitochondrial function, increased oxidative stress, and impaired DNA repair (Massudi et al., 2012; Zhu et al., 2015). In other words, the drop in NAD+ is not just a passive marker of aging — it is functionally involved in how and why aging happens at the cellular level.

So naturally, the next question became: can we boost it?

Short answer: kind of. Long answer: it is complicated.

Now, let's burst the bubble first (sorry!). Nothing stops or reverses aging. Well... nothing we know about. Maybe Jeff and Elon know about it, but — sadly — we don't!

Understanding NAD

Most of the excitement around NAD+ comes from studies using precursors such as NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) and NR (nicotinamide riboside), which the body can convert into NAD+. In animal models, boosting NAD+ has shown improvements in metabolic function, mitochondrial activity, and even lifespan in some contexts (Mills et al., 2016; Zhang et al., 2016).

In humans, the data is more measured. Supplementation with NAD+ precursors can increase NAD+ levels in blood and tissues, but the downstream effects on aging, performance, or longevity are still being studied and are far less dramatic than headlines suggest (Elhassan et al., 2019; Martens et al., 2018).

And importantly, NAD+ does not "stop" aging.

Aging is not a single pathway you can switch off. It is a complex, multi-system process involving genomic instability, mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence, hormonal shifts, and immune changes. NAD+ is one piece of that puzzle, not the master switch.

What NAD+ Does

Where NAD+ does appear to have meaningful relevance is in:

• Supporting mitochondrial energy production
• Enhancing DNA repair pathways
• Regulating cellular stress responses
• May support the appearance of smoother, more resilient-looking skin

How Does NAD Affect Skin?

Your skin is metabolically active tissue, and like the rest of your body, it experiences a decline in NAD+ over time. This contributes to slower turnover and visible signs of aging like dullness, fine lines, and loss of elasticity. UV exposure further accelerates NAD+ depletion, increasing DNA damage and oxidative stress (Ryu et al., 2018).

Topical strategies aimed at supporting NAD+ pathways are emerging as a way to target this locally, rather than relying solely on systemic supplementation. The idea is not that a cream will reverse aging, but that it may help skin look and feel its best.

That is where sunflower-derived actives designed to support NAD+ pathways come into play. RejuveNAD, a sunflower-derived active found in some topical formulas, is designed with this goal in mind — not hype or "age reversal," but supporting skin that looks healthy, refreshed, and resilient over time.

Aging is not something you "stop," but we can give our skin the ingredients that help it look its most vibrant — for longer!

This article is for educational and general wellness purposes only. It is not medical advice and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you are noticing changes in your body or have questions about your health, please consult a knowledgeable healthcare provider.

References

Imai S, Guarente L. NAD+ and sirtuins in aging and disease. Trends Cell Biol. 2014.

Verdin E. NAD+ in aging, metabolism, and neurodegeneration. Science. 2015.

Massudi H et al. Age-associated changes in oxidative stress and NAD+ metabolism. PLoS One. 2012.

Zhu XH et al. NAD+ levels decline with age in human brain. Neurobiology of Aging. 2015.

Mills KF et al. Long-term administration of NMN mitigates age-associated physiological decline in mice. Cell Metab. 2016.

Zhang H et al. NAD+ repletion improves mitochondrial function and extends lifespan in mice. Science. 2016.

Elhassan YS et al. Nicotinamide riboside supplementation in humans. Cell Metabolism. 2019.

Martens CR et al. Chronic nicotinamide riboside supplementation is well-tolerated and elevates NAD+ in healthy adults. Nat Commun. 2018.

Ryu D et al. NAD+ repletion improves skin health and mitochondrial function under stress. Cell Reports. 2018.