How Hitting Rock Bottom at 40 Led Me to NAD+ and a New Path to Health

I entered my 30s feeling like I had it all: newly married to the woman of my dreams, a beautiful little girl, and another on the way. I was grinding through a cardiology fellowship, laser-focused on one goal: finish training, start a job in private practice, and finally enjoy the fruits of years of hard work.

I was all in, dedicated to my patients, my career, and my growing family. I convinced myself that surviving on just 4-5 hours of sleep was a superpower. Diet? It was an afterthought. Exercise? A luxury I couldn’t afford. I just kept pushing, sprinting through life without ever pausing to think about the toll it was taking on my health. There were warning signs along the way, but I ignored them all.

By the time I turned 40, I was still blessed with an amazing family and three incredible daughters. However, instead of reaching a point where I could finally decompress, take a breath, and focus on myself, I found myself stuck in a reality I hadn't expected. I was carrying an extra 100 pounds, completely burned out, and facing a harsh truth: I had sacrificed my health on the altar of ambition. For someone who spent his days advising patients on how to live healthier, I had become the cautionary tale I never thought I’d be.

A Wake-Up Call I Couldn't Ignore

I knew I needed to make a change. I started small: cleaning up my diet, moving more, and prioritizing sleep. But progress was slow, and the journey was far from linear. Two years into this process, I began facing injuries. First, I hurt my shoulder and endured months of intense physical therapy. Six months later, I injured my knee, leaving me in constant pain and unable to sleep through the night.

After a week of suffering, an orthopedic surgeon prescribed steroids, which helped. However, after four weeks, I still wasn’t back to full function. Frustrated and desperate for something that could accelerate my recovery, I began searching for answers. That’s when I discovered NAD+.

I began daily NAD+ injections, unsure of what to expect. Within a week, my knee felt back to normal. But the benefits didn’t stop there. My mood lifted, my energy returned, and my cognitive function sharpened. It felt like someone had flipped a switch, bringing me back to life.

Eight months later, I’m still using NAD+. Not only am I injury- and pain-free, but I’m also building muscle faster, recovering more quickly from workouts, and for the first time in years, I’m thriving instead of just pushing through. That experience changed everything for me. It led me to dive deeper into the science behind NAD+, and what I found was compelling.

What Is NAD+ and Why Is It So Important?

NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a coenzyme derived from Vitamin B3, found in every cell of your body. It’s essential for life and optimal health. NAD+ serves two critical functions:

1. Energy Production: NAD+ powers your mitochondria, helping cells convert food into usable energy (ATP).
2. Cellular Repair: NAD+ fuels essential enzymes like sirtuins and PARPs that regulate inflammation, DNA repair, gene expression, and longevity.

Think of NAD+ as both cellular fuel and defense, keeping your body running and repairing itself simultaneously.

The Problem: NAD+ Declines as We Age

The bad news? NAD+ levels naturally decline with age—by as much as 50% by middle age and up to 80% by your 70s. This decline is linked to:

• Mitochondrial dysfunction
• DNA damage accumulation
• Oxidative stress
• Chronic inflammation
• Reduced resilience to physical and metabolic stress

Even worse, lifestyle factors like poor sleep, stress, sedentary habits, and a processed diet accelerate this decline.

NAD+ and the Pathways of Longevity

NAD+ plays a pivotal role in several key pathways of longevity:

1. Sirtuins: These NAD+-dependent enzymes regulate gene expression, inflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial health. Without NAD+, they can’t function, leading to faster aging.
2. PARPs: These enzymes repair damaged DNA. But they deplete NAD+ in the process, meaning when levels are low, your cells struggle to keep up with daily wear and tear.
3. Glutathione—The “Master Antioxidant”: Oxidative stress accelerates aging, and glutathione helps protect against it. NAD+ is essential for regenerating glutathione and maintaining the body’s antioxidant capacity.

Potential Benefits of NAD+ Supplementation

A growing body of research supports both the safety and effectiveness of NAD+ supplementation, including its precursors like nicotinamide riboside (NR) and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN). While long-term human studies are ongoing, early research and real-world use suggest that NAD+ boosters may:

• Enhance energy and metabolism
• Improve mitochondrial function
• Support brain health and cognition
• Delay age-related metabolic decline
• Speed up recovery from illness, stress, or injury
• Improve cardiovascular health
• Boost DNA repair and cellular resilience

My Journey Isn't Unique

As a physician, I had all the knowledge I needed but lacked balance in my own life. It took hitting rock bottom to shift my mindset about health. NAD+ isn’t a miracle cure, but it’s a promising tool in the science of aging. When combined with foundational lifestyle habits—like quality sleep, exercise, and a nutrient-rich diet—it holds the potential to radically change how we age and feel.

If you’re feeling burned out, run down, or stuck in a health rut, let this be your wake-up call. It’s never too late to change course, and with the right support, you may be surprised at what your body can do.