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Buzzy longevity supplement flops in major Parkinson's trial
New York Post • • health
Key Points:
- A large study involving 410 early-stage Parkinson’s patients found that the supplement nicotinamide riboside (NR), a vitamin B3 derivative, did not slow disease progression and was associated with worsened symptoms compared to placebo.
- Participants taking NR experienced a statistically significant but clinically insignificant worsening on the MDS-UPDRS scale, while those on placebo showed slight improvement; non-motor symptoms like mood and sleep also worsened more with NR.
- Imaging showed no benefit of NR on the brain’s dopamine system, and adverse events were similar between the NR and placebo groups, indicating no safety advantage.
- Researchers concluded that NR and other NAD+-boosting supplements should not be used to treat Parkinson’s outside clinical trials, though NAD+ targeting treatments may still hold potential for other diseases.
- This study underscores the ongoing challenges in finding effective Parkinson’s treatments, a disease affecting over 10 million people worldwide with no current cure.
