A Harvard research team that includes Dr. David Sinclair, best known for his pioneering work on the anti-aging benefits of resveratrol, has recently released a paper recommending NAD+ to boost the immune system of seniors as a preventive against COVID-19. The paper, which is currently undergoing peer review, has been made available on the Preprints website and reported in various publications. The researchers recommend that:
Elderly COVID-19 patients should be given anti-aging drugs to make their immune systems “younger” so they can fight the virus faster—before it wreaks havoc on their lungs and other organs.
We can summarize the evidence that backs their recommendation as follows:
The severity and outcome of COVID-19 largely depends on the patient’s age. Over 80% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients are over 65 years of age and have a 23-fold greater risk of death.
COVID-19 patients most commonly present with fever, cough, and dyspnea. Particularly in those over 65, however, symptoms can progress to pneumonia, cytokine release syndrome, multiple organ failures, and death.
The molecular differences between the young, middle-aged, and elderly may determine whether COVID-19 is a mild or life-threatening illness.
As we age, our immune system tends to recognize and respond to pathogens more slowly and to be overwhelmed by chronic inflammation (inflammaging).
A slower immune system gives the coronavirus time to replicate and cause more serious disease.
NAD is essential to many cell functions, including numerous aspects of stress resistance and pathogen defense.
NAD levels naturally decline as we age.
There is growing evidence that lower NAD+ levels in the lung and vascular endothelium contribute to poor COVID-19 outcomes.
NAD “boosters” can help give the elderly a “younger” immune system, which would recognize, respond, and clear the coronavirus before it was likely to become life-threatening.
“NAD boosters…have been suggested as first-line treatments against COVID-19, especially aged patients,” the researchers conclude.
