What is Age Associated Cellular Decline (AACD)?
As we age, our body’s cells undergo wear and tear. The deterioration forces our cells to function less optimally as we get older. This process of cells deteriorating as we age is called AACD. Typically, AACD onsets in the 40s, with dramatic acceleration in the 60s.
How does the mitochondria accelerate Age Associated Cellular Decline?
The mitochondria is responsible for creating the energy necessary to sustain life. The health of the mitochondria in our cells directly effects overall cellular function and impacts daily energy, endurance, strength, and stamina. Mitochondria are nicknamed ‘the powerhouse of the cell’ for producing cellular energy (known as ATP). Disruption in the ability to produce this energy accelerates cellular aging and AACD.
What is NAD and how does it impact Age Associated Cellular Decline?
NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a critical molecule for carrying out the basics of life: breathing, eating, drinking, walking. NAD not only helps life live longer, but also helps life be lived better. With age, NAD declines. In middle-age, people usually have nearly half of the NAD levels from their youth. This is very important because NAD is necessary for ATP production by the mitochondria. Without adequate energy, cell function declines and the aging process accelerates. This quickly leads to less energy to do daily activities, more time being needed for recovery after injury, and overall frailty of the body.
How does NAD help with cell energy production?
For our mitochondria to produce the necessary ATP our cells need for energy, they require a constant stream of electrons sourced from the foods we eat. The fatty acids and glucose in food break down via the process of cellular respiration. NAD molecules enable cellular respiration by transporting electrons through the entire process as needed. Without this steady flow of electrons, ATP production gets compromised and cell energy does not happen.
How is the decline in NAD related to the aging process?
Feeling tired faster and more frequent fatigue are common signs of aging and are thought to be linked to a lack of NAD relative to the needs of the body. While research is still ongoing as to why there’s a decline, it’s thought that other cellular processes (like inflammation from our immune system) are accelerating with age and use up a portion of the NAD molecules for these processes. This leaves a drought of NAD molecules for the process of cellular respiration and ATP development.
The decline of NAD is gradual and usually not noticeable at first. Overtime, there is certainly a noticeable impact and it shows up with symptoms like frequent fatigue, loss of physical energy, a slowed metabolism, and a reduction in mental acuity.