No evidence for cognitive improvement from oral nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) in dementia

Reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) is advertised as an over-t he-counter product or dietary supplement to treat Alzheimer's disease. We p erformed a 3-month open-label study with oral 10 mg/day NADH with 25 patien ts with mild to moderate dementia of the Alzheimer, vascular, and fronto-te mporal types in addition to their current cholinomimetic drug medication. I n 19 patients who completed the study, we found no evidence for any cogniti ve effect as defined by established psychometric tests. We conclude that NA DH is unlikely to achieve cognitive improvements in an extent reported earl ier, and present theoretical arguments against an effectiveness of this com pound in dementia disorders.