Age is the most important independent risk factor influencing the prevalence of chronic diseases in the elderly. Today, let's explore the preventive effects of NMN on age-related chronic diseases and the key aspects in which it plays a role.


1. Preventive Effects on Cardiovascular Diseases

Enhancing Vascular Function

NMN boosts NAD+ levels in the body, activating proteins such as SIRT1. This promotes the production of nitric oxide by endothelial cells, which relaxes the smooth muscles of the blood vessels, increases vascular elasticity, and reduces the risk of atherosclerosis. This contributes to maintaining normal blood pressure levels and reducing the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension.


Improving Lipid Metabolism

Studies show that NMN may regulate the expression of genes related to lipid metabolism, promoting the oxidation and breakdown of fatty acids. This reduces the deposition of lipids in tissues such as blood vessel walls and the liver, helping to lower cholesterol, triglycerides, and other lipids in the blood. It is beneficial for preventing hyperlipidemia and related cardiovascular diseases.


Reducing Oxidative Stress and Inflammation

NMN enhances the cellular antioxidant defense, reducing the damage caused by free radicals to endothelial cells. It also lowers the expression of inflammatory factors, alleviating vascular inflammation. This helps prevent vascular damage and the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, thereby reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.


2. Preventive Effects on Neurodegenerative Diseases

Maintaining Neuronal Function

NMN provides sufficient energy for neurons, supporting their normal physiological functions and metabolic activities. At the same time, by activating pathways such as SIRT1, NMN regulates gene expression within neurons, promoting their survival and differentiation, and enhancing their resistance to damage and stress. This helps prevent neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.


Improving Neurovascular Coupling

NMN helps improve cerebral circulation and enhances neurovascular coupling, ensuring that neurons receive sufficient oxygen and nutrients.

Good neurovascular coupling is crucial for maintaining normal brain function. It reduces neuronal damage and death caused by insufficient blood supply to the brain, thereby lowering the risk of neurodegenerative diseases.


Inhibiting Neuroinflammation

Neuroinflammation plays a significant role in the development and progression of neurodegenerative diseases.

NMN can regulate the immune system, inhibiting the excessive activation of microglia, reducing the release of inflammatory factors, and alleviating neuroinflammatory responses. This protects neurons and helps delay the progression of neurodegenerative diseases.


3. Preventive Effects on Diabetes and Its Complications

Improving Insulin Sensitivity

NMN may activate signaling pathways such as AMPK to regulate intracellular energy metabolism, enhancing the cells' sensitivity to insulin. This allows cells to better uptake and utilize glucose, thereby lowering blood sugar levels and helping to prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes.


Protecting Pancreatic β-Cells

Impaired function of pancreatic β-cells is one of the key causes of diabetes onset. NMN increases intracellular NAD+ levels, enhances cellular antioxidant capacity, and improves DNA repair ability, thereby protecting β-cells from damage caused by oxidative stress and inflammation. This helps maintain their normal insulin secretion function, playing a significant role in the prevention of diabetes.


Reducing Diabetes Complications

Diabetic patients often experience various complications, such as diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy. NMN helps improve glucose metabolism, reduce oxidative stress, and alleviate inflammatory responses, providing protective effects on organs like the kidneys and retina. This can lower the risk of developing diabetes-related complications.


4. Preventive Effects on Osteoporosis

Promoting Osteoblast Differentiation

NMN can regulate signaling pathways related to bone metabolism, promoting the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into osteoblasts. This increases the number and activity of osteoblasts, stimulates the synthesis and mineralization of bone matrix, and helps maintain bone mass and strength.


Inhibiting Osteoclast Formation

Excessive activity of osteoclasts can lead to increased bone resorption, resulting in osteoporosis. NMN may regulate the immune system and cytokine networks, inhibiting the differentiation and maturation of osteoclast precursor cells. This reduces the number of osteoclasts, thereby decreasing bone resorption and maintaining the balance of bone metabolism.


Improving the Bone Microenvironment

NMN enhances cellular energy metabolism and antioxidant capacity, improving the microenvironment of bone tissue. This provides a favorable condition for the growth and metabolism of bone cells, helping to prevent the onset of osteoporosis.