We recently completed the NADPARK study, a phase I randomized, double-blinded trial, aiming to assess the tolerability, cerebral bioavailability and molecular effects of NR therapy in PD. A total of 30 individuals with newly diagnosed, drug-naïve PD were randomized to NR 500 mg x2/day or placebo for 30 days. The study showed encouraging results, which were published in Cell Metabolism.


In summary, the NADPARK study showed that intake of NR 1000mg daily was well tolerated and led to a significant, but variable, increase in cerebral NAD levels (measured by 31phosphorous magnetic resonance spectroscopy, 31P-MRS) and related metabolites in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). NR recipients showing increased brain NAD levels exhibited altered cerebral metabolism, measured by 18fluoro-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET), and this was associated with mild clinical improvement. NR augmented the NAD metabolome and induced transcriptional upregulation of processes related to mitochondrial, lysosomal, and proteasomal function in blood cells and/or skeletal muscle. Furthermore, NR decreased the levels of inflammatory cytokines in serum and cerebrospinal fluid. These findings nominate NR as a potential neuroprotective therapy for PD, warranting further investigation in larger trials.