NAD Therapy for Improving Memory and Brain Blood Flow in Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment

NAD Therapy for Improving Memory and Brain Blood Flow in Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment

This study will provide insight into whether a nutritional supplement, nicotinamide riboside (NR), improves memory and brain blood flow in older adults with low memory abilities. Overall, this project has the potential to identify a novel, safe and cost-effective strategy for decreasing age-related memory loss.

Inclusion Criteria

• Cognitive function scores consistent with amnestic mild cognitive impairment based on pre-screening evaluation;
• age 60-90 years;
• MMSE score >24 at time of initial consent;

Exclusion Criteria

• blood chemistries indicative of abnormal renal, liver, thyroid and adrenal function; estimated glomerular filtration rate using the MDRD prediction equation must be >30 ml/min/1.73 m2;
• any clinically significant abnormal blood chemistry values as determined by the research nurse or NMPCC nurse practitioner;
• major psychiatric disorder (e.g. schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression within past two years);
• neurological or autoimmune conditions affecting cognition (e.g. Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, mild or severe traumatic brain injury, large vessel infarct);
• concussion within last 2 years and ≥ 3 lifetime concussions;
• current systemic medical illnesses (e.g. cardiovascular disease, cancer, renal failure);
• prior history of any type of cancer;
• substance abuse or dependence (DSM-V criteria);
• current use of medications used to treat dementia (e.g., anticholinesterase drugs) or other drugs likely to affect cognition (e.g., anticholinergic drugs, long-acting benzodiazepines);
• claustrophobia, metal implants, pacemaker or other factors affecting feasibility and/or safety of MRI scanning*;
• current smoking (including marijuana) within the past 3 months;
• hospitalization as a result of COVID-19