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NAD+ shown to rejuvenate muscle deterioration even in old age
February 3, 2021
- Scientists have discovered certain protein aggregates found in skeletal muscles that cause the detrimental effects of muscle aging.
- These protein aggregates naturally build up in our muscle tissue during the aging process.
- But scientists now believe that the use of NAD+ could reverse the accumulation of these protein aggregators and restore muscle function.
Naturally, we’re all inclined to age, it’s the bitter-sweet truth about life. But, it’s the negative effects of aging on our muscles that really puts a strain on the quality of life we live.
Aging brings with it a number of debilitating conditions; frailty, fatigue, and in some cases, physical disability. It also creates a significant burden on the public healthcare system. Yet, despite all these challenges, researchers have yet to define the exact biomarkers and biological processes that cause muscle aging.
But all this could change:
Recently, scientists led by lead-researcher Johan Auwerx—from the EPFL’s School of Life Sciences—have discovered certain protein aggregates deposited in skeletal muscles that could be behind the detrimental effects of muscle aging. By blocking these protein aggregates, they believe that they can potentially slow down, or even eliminate the undesirable features of muscular aging altogether.
During the study, the scientists identified specific amyloid-like protein aggregates in aged muscles from different species; ranging from nematodes like C. elegans, all the way to humans. They also discovered that these protein aggregates also impair mitochondrial function.
While it’s been known by the medical community for a while now that protein aggregates contribute significantly to brain aging, this is the first time they’ve been shown to actually contribute to muscle aging, as well as to cause direct damage to mitochondria. As such, these protein aggregates could serve as novel biomarkers for the aging process beyond the brain and the muscle. Which then begs the question: can the formation of protein aggregates be reversed?
To find the answer to this puzzling question, scientists assembled a number of test worms and fed them with a combination of vitamin nicotinamide and the anti-tumor agent, Olaparib.
Both substances have been observed to increase the levels of NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) in the body.
NAD+ is a biomolecule essential for the maintenance of mitochondrial functions, and whose levels naturally decline during the aging process.
Once the worms were fed with the combination, scientists observed that the two compounds ignited the defense systems of the mitochondria, despite the advanced age of some of the worms. This demonstrated that the treatment actually activated the so-called mitochondrial quality control system; thereby reducing the number of amyloid protein aggregates, and improving the worms’ fitness and lifespan.
After this successful observation, the scientists then set their sights on human muscle tissue derived from aged individuals and IBM patients. And just like the worms, the treatment activated the same mitochondrial quality control system that resulted in improvements in mitochondrial function and protein homeostasis.
Finally, the scientists decided to test the treatment of nicotinamide riboside in aged mice. The results were conclusive; the treatment also boosted the mitochondrial function and reduced the number of protein aggregates found in different skeletal muscles of the mice.
So, with results this promising, drugs that boost mitochondrial quality could potentially be used to reverse the formation of age-related protein aggregates, rejuvenate tissues, and subsequently enhance longevity.
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