A New Way of Looking at Alzheimer’s
Alzheimer’s is usually described in terms of plaques and tangles, but more and more research shows it is also a disease of “tired” brain cells under constant stress. Two important molecules—NAD⁺ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) and glutathione—sit right at the center of brain energy and protection, which is why scientists are so interested in them.
What Is NAD⁺ and Why Does It Matter?
Think of NAD⁺ as a tiny battery helper inside your cells. It helps your mitochondria (the “power plants” of cells) turn food into usable energy and supports many repair processes that keep brain cells working properly.
- NAD⁺ levels naturally drop as we age and appear to be lower in people with Alzheimer’s, which is linked to weaker energy production and more inflammation in the brain.
- In mouse models of Alzheimer’s, giving NAD⁺ “precursors” (like nicotinamide riboside or nicotinamide mononucleotide) has improved memory, reduced brain inflammation, and helped cells clear out damaged parts.
Scientists are now testing NAD⁺-boosting supplements in people with Alzheimer’s to see whether raising NAD⁺ in the brain can actually change symptoms or slow decline. These human trials are still in early stages, so there are no firm answers yet.
What Is Glutathione and Why Is It Important?
Glutathione is often called the body’s “master antioxidant.” It helps neutralize harmful molecules called free radicals, which can damage brain cells over time.
- Levels of glutathione are lower in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s or mild cognitive impairment, a sign that their brains are under more oxidative (chemical) stress.
- In animal studies, boosting glutathione helps protect brain cells from damage related to amyloid‑beta (one of the key Alzheimer’s proteins), reduces oxidation of fats and proteins, and supports healthier brain chemistry.
Researchers use several strategies to raise glutathione, including N‑acetylcysteine (NAC, a common supplement) and combinations of amino acids that give the brain the building blocks it needs to make more glutathione. Clinical trials are underway to see whether raising glutathione in people with Alzheimer’s can improve thinking, brain energy use, or inflammation markers.
How NAD⁺ and Glutathione Might Work Together
NAD⁺ and glutathione are part of the same “stress‑response network” inside cells: one supports energy and repair, the other protects against oxidative damage. When NAD⁺ is low and glutathione is depleted, brain cells can become more vulnerable to inflammation, toxic proteins, and even forms of cell death seen in Alzheimer’s.
This has led scientists to explore a combined metabolic approach to brain health that includes:
- Supporting cell energy (for example, with NAD⁺ precursors and lifestyle changes like exercise and sleep)
- Supporting cell protection (for example, by boosting glutathione and other antioxidants, and reducing chronic inflammation)
So far, these ideas are promising but experimental; they offer a new way of thinking about Alzheimer’s as a condition that might be influenced by cellular energy and resilience, not just by targeting one single protein.
What This Means For You (and Important Cautions)
It can be exciting—and confusing—to hear about NAD⁺ boosters, glutathione, NAC, and other supplements online, especially when you or a loved one is facing memory problems. A few key points are important to keep in mind:
- Most of the strongest results so far come from animal and lab studies, not from large human trials in people living with Alzheimer’s.
- NAD⁺ and glutathione‑related supplements are not proven cures and should not be seen as replacements for prescribed Alzheimer’s medications, brain‑healthy lifestyle habits, or safety planning.
- Some supplements can interact with medications, affect liver or kidney function, or simply be unnecessary or expensive for a given person’s situation.
Because of all this, anyone considering NAD⁺ precursors, glutathione, NAC, or similar products for brain health or Alzheimer’s should talk to their healthcare clinician first to review potential benefits, risks, dosing, and medication interactions in the context of their own medical history.
What Glutathione Does
Glutathione is your body's main built-in antioxidant, and your brain relies on it heavily. Brain cells burn a large amount of oxygen, and burning oxygen creates damaging byproducts. Glutathione mops those up.
Levels fall with age, and imaging studies have found lower glutathione in brain regions affected early in Alzheimer's. When it runs low, cells are left exposed to exactly the kind of damage that accumulates over decades.
Why the Two Work Together
NAD+ and glutathione are connected. Your body needs NAD+ in a specific form to regenerate glutathione after it has been used up.
So low NAD+ makes it harder to maintain glutathione, and low glutathione leaves cells under more stress, which consumes more NAD+. Each shortage worsens the other, which is why researchers look at them as a pair rather than separately.
Being Clear About the Evidence
This is promising science, not settled medicine. The encouraging results are largely from cell and animal studies, and Alzheimer's research has a long history of treatments that worked in mice and failed in people.
Human trials are underway. Until they report, nobody can honestly tell you that NAD+ or glutathione prevents or treats Alzheimer's, and you should be skeptical of any clinic that does.
What Has Better Evidence Today
If brain health is your concern, the strongest evidence still points to the unglamorous things: regular exercise, treating high blood pressure, treating sleep apnea, controlling blood sugar, staying socially and mentally engaged, protecting your hearing, and not smoking.
We also check the markers that affect brain health and are easy to correct, including B12, vitamin D, thyroid, and homocysteine. Elevated homocysteine in particular has been linked to cognitive decline, and it responds well to treatment.
Where This Fits
NAD+ and glutathione support are reasonable as part of a wider plan for someone already doing the things above. They are not a substitute for any of them, and they are not a treatment for a diagnosed dementia.
If you have a family history of Alzheimer's and want to be proactive, the most useful step is a thorough workup of what is modifiable now.
We offer longevity care and advanced testing by telehealth across Washington and Idaho from our clinic in Spokane. Book a free 15-minute call to talk about protecting your brain health.