What Is Nicotinamide Riboside?
Nicotinamide riboside, or niagen, is an alternative form of vitamin B3. While most anti-aging products try to reverse signs of aging on your skin, nicotinamide riboside aims to reverse signs of aging from inside your body. It is promoted as an anti-aging supplement because it boosts your body's levels of NAD+, which acts as fuel for many key biological processes, such as:

However, the amount of NAD+ in your body naturally falls with age. Low NAD+ levels have been linked to health concerns like aging and chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer's disease and vision loss.

Interestingly, animal research has found that raising NAD+ levels may help reverse signs of aging and lower the risk of many chronic diseases.

Nicotinamide Riboside Benefits
 
There are many nicotinamide riboside benefits beyond the brain. Because this molecule is important for basic mitochondrial function, it impacts every cell in the body. Similar to creatine, when we supplement with NR, we see benefits universally.
 
Before we dive into the cognitive benefits, it's useful to note that nicotinamide riboside can reduce inflammation and oxidative stress [4]. There are also nicotinamide riboside cancer benefits as well. Studies show NR can reduce tumor growth and protects DNA synthesis within cancer patients [5].
 
All of this culminates in general longevity and antiaging advantages. The byproduct of NR helps reprogram dysfunctional cells, which rejuvenate and enhance overall cell function [6]. Because our cell function starts to decrease with age, this is a method of improving lifespan and quality of life.
 
There are a host of nicotinamide riboside benefits for the brain specifically. There are over 5 million Americans struggling with Alzheimer's disease [7], which is the 6th highest cause of death. One 3 month study found that nicotinamide riboside could increase cognition and slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease [8].
 
A separate study showed that nicotinamide riboside (NR) could delay the death of brain cells, which suggest a neuroprotective effect [9].
 
Anyone considered elderly can find nicotinamide riboside benefits almost immediately, but young healthy adults can as well.
 
 
Vitamin NR Dosage
 
Getting the vitamin NR dosage correct can help avoid nicotinamide riboside side effects as well. Most of the studies are in the thousands of milligrams per kilogram of bodyweight, but the suggested NR supplement dose is 1 - 200 mg per day.
 
There are plenty of anecdotal reports of doses up to 600 mg per day, which can increase mental energy and focus, but these are neither common nor recommended for first time users. It's best to take niagen within the 1 - 200 mg per day dose range.