Early-Life NAD+ Deficiency Programs Skeletal Muscle Aging By Sustained Suppression Of Hyaluronic Acid Synthesis Beginning In Childhood
Have you ever wondered if early life experiences could set the stage for how your muscles age? New research suggests that a crucial molecule called NAD+, essential for energy production and overall cell health, plays a surprisingly long-lasting role in muscle aging. While NAD+ levels naturally decrease as we get older, this study explored what happens when these levels are low during childhood.
The findings reveal that a shortage of NAD+ early in life can drastically reduce muscle function and health, even at a young age. What’s particularly striking is that even if NAD+ levels return to normal later in adulthood, the damage to muscle function persists. This suggests that early-life NAD+ deficiency “programs” the muscles for accelerated aging.
So, how does this happen? The research points to hyaluronic acid, a substance vital for healthy muscle tissue and the proper functioning of muscle stem cells, which are crucial for muscle repair and growth. It was found that early NAD+ deficiency leads to a sustained reduction in the production of hyaluronic acid. This, in turn, negatively impacts muscle stem cells and ultimately results in decreased physical activity and muscle weakness.
This work highlights the critical importance of maintaining healthy levels of key molecules like NAD+ during our formative years. It suggests that interventions aimed at supporting NAD+ levels in early life could be a promising strategy for promoting healthy muscle aging and preventing age-related muscle decline.
Source: link to paper