NADage Study Testing Nicotinamide Riboside to Slow Frailty and Improve Physical and Cognitive Function in Older Adults

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating the potential of nicotinamide riboside NR to slow down functional decline in elderly frail adults. This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial focuses on frailty, a condition associated with aging and linked to decreased levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide NAD, which plays a role in cell repair and energy production. The study aims to evaluate whether NR, a supplement that may replenish NAD, can improve physical and cognitive functions in this population and assess the safety of daily NR use at 2000 mg. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either 2000 mg of NR daily or a placebo for 52 weeks. Both treatments are given orally in tablet form twice daily. The study is conducted at a single center and includes 100 individuals identified as frail by the Fried Frailty Phenotype. Researchers will compare changes in gait speed between the two groups, along with other physical and cognitive performance measures. During the year-long study, participants will undergo clinical evaluations including actigraphy to monitor activity, questionnaires, cognitive assessments, and bio sampling with blood, urine, and fecal samples collected. Imaging studies such as magnetic resonance imaging MRI, 31P-MR-spectrometry to assess brain NAD levels, and FDG-PET scans to evaluate metabolic activity will also be performed. Safety and tolerability will be monitored, and the main measure of success is improvement in gait speed over the 52 weeks.

The NADage Study: Nicotinamide Riboside Replenishment Therapy Against Functional Decline in Aging