Research into anti- ageing medicine has gained momentum in recent years.
As the population ages, increasing numbers of people are living longer. However, there has been little improvement in healthy lifespan, which is essentially the period of life that we live independently, free of disease.
Research has shown that by the time we reach the age of 64, many of us will have contracted one or more chronic ailments which will impact upon our quality of life and ability to live independent lives.
As we age, we are more likely to develop many diseases such as type- 2 diabetes, heart disease, pulmonary disease, and multiple types of cancers. This has led to scientists focussing on ageing as a “disease in its own right” rather than the traditional approach of targeting each disease individually. The rationale for this being that the cure for one disease does not prevent others from occurring- for example, a patient may be cured from cancer but then goes on to develop dementia . As ageing is the common denominator, slowing or reversing cellular ageing may address both.
In the study of ageing, scientists have discovered 9 “hallmarks “of ageing which are linked to 9 key cellular changes, which they are investigating in great detail. In general terms, ageing is considered an organ-wide loss of homeostasis (or control), innate repair and regenerative capacity, resulting in an accumulation of damage and the development of multiple co-pathologies.
The identification of these hallmarks of ageing has marked a shift towards understanding ageing, not simply as a single process but as a combination of multiple cellular changes, allowing the potential to therapeutically target ageing at its root cause.
One area of intense research within this field surrounds the molecule nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) which has been identified closely as an essential metabolite, essential for the production of energy and the regulation of enzymes involved in the stress response.
NAD+ decline is seen in many organs and tissues as humans age and chronically low levels have been associated with accelerated ageing disorders, age related disease states and linked to multiple hallmarks of ageing. NAD+ is also essential for the functioning of enzymes linked to cellular repair and longevity.
In mice studies.it has been found that NAD+ levels have decreased twofold by mid-age, correlating to multiple age related issues. Successful restoration of NAD+ to youthful levels resulted in cardiovascular improvements and reversal of multiple metabolic conditions.
It has been discovered that NAD+ decline plays a critical role in skin ageing and its restoration is found to have positive effects on collagen preservation, wound healing and regeneration. There are multiple ways to target the root causes of this decline as simply adding precursors (or the building blocks of NAD+) have not been found to increase levels sufficiently.
Nuchido Time increases NAD+ by simultaneously feeding into all aspects of NAD+ synthesis and recycling as well, as reducing excessive consumption.
Supplementation should be considered as an adjunct, not a substitute for healthy lifestyle such as eating a largely- plant based, with a controlled dairy intake and low consumption of refined foods especially red meats.
Intermittent fasting and exercise are amongst other lifestyle strategies that have been associated with switching on of the longevity genes.
Combining NAD+ supplementation with skin rejuvenation treatments such as micro-needling and skin peels should improve post-operative skin healing and rejuvenation, as many such treatments rely heavily on stimulating a wound healing response.
Treating ageing at cellular level, not just “skin-deep” is very exciting for aesthetic medical practitioners who can now incorporate strategies to delay or reverse cellular ageing into their clinics, providing their clients with a complete holistic treatment.
