Molecular biologist and founder of Nuchido, Dr Nichola Conlon, has dedicated her career to understanding healthy ageing through one of the body’s most vital molecules: NAD+. Her work explores how optimising cellular repair, energy production and resilience can transform how we feel – and how we age. So what does a true new year cellular reset look like, and how can targeted, science-backed supplements help restore vitality from the inside out?

At its simplest, what is NAD+ and why is it often called ‘the molecule for life’?

NAD+ is a natural molecule found in every cell in the body. It is critical for powering key cellular processes. While NAD+ is involved in over 500 cellular pathways, two stand out:

• Energy production – converting the food we eat into energy for our cells.
• Cellular repair – driving cellular rejuvenation and repair pathways.

NAD+ levels naturally decline by around 50% every 20 years, meaning that by the age of 20, half of this essential molecule is already lost. This decline is a major driver of the ageing process.

While ageing is often associated with external changes, like loss of skin elasticity or greying hair, it actually begins at the cellular level. NAD+ is so exciting because it gives us the opportunity to slow ageing from within – helping us look and feel our best as we get older.

Why does NAD+ decline with age and why is that decline such a concern for cellular health and vitality?

There are two main factors that drive NAD+ decline as we age.

Firstly, reduced production – we don’t get NAD+ from our food, instead our cells must produce it continuously. However, the main production pathway, called the Salvage Pathway, becomes less efficient with age as the key enzyme (NAMPT) declines.

Secondly, increased demand – older cells accumulate DNA damage and chronic inflammation, which deplete NAD+ faster.

The combination of reduced production and increased demand leaves cells with an NAD+ deficit. Since NAD+ is in every cell, its decline affects the whole body, contributing to fatigue, brain fog, poor sleep, slower recovery from exercise, and reduced immune function.

Many ‘longevity supplements’ market themselves as quick fixes. How does Nuchido’s philosophy differ in treating NAD+ decline as a systemic, whole-cell challenge rather than a simple deficiency?

Our bodies are incredibly complex, nothing exists in isolation, and all our systems communicate constantly. When it comes to NAD+, it’s not as simple as just taking more precursors or pure NAD+ – that alone won’t fix the problem.

At Nuchido, we take a different approach: we work with your biology. Your cells are naturally very good at producing NAD+, but as we age, that process slows down. Nuchido TIME+ is designed to switch that natural production back on, so your cells restore their NAD+ from within.

NAD+ decline isn’t caused by a single factor, which is why our formula contains multiple ingredients that target the pathways that slow down as we age. This multi-targeted approach allows Nuchido TIME+ to restore youthful NAD+ production, supporting energy, cellular repair, and overall cellular health from the inside out.

Can you explain how Nuchido TIME+ works to restore NAD+ – especially since it doesn’t simply supply NAD+ or its common precursors like NMN?

Many people often look at the product label and are shocked that there is no NAD+, NMN or NR in the formula, and that is because none of those ingredients are needed to boost NAD+ levels.

Instead, Nuchido TIME+ is an NAD+ activator, designed to switch back on your cells’ own NAD+ production. This means your cells naturally restore their NAD+ levels from within, rather than relying on a temporary “top up.”

You can group the ingredients in our formula into 4 categories:

• Increasing natural NAD+ production – Alpha lipoic acid and rutin activate NAD+ production in your cells by increasing levels of the NAD+ recycling enzyme – NAMPT.
• Reducing NAD+ demand – Green tea extract and apigenin inhibit inflammatory processes that waste NAD+, ensuring NAD+ is available for cellular repair and rejuvenation.
• NAD+ precursor – Nicotinamide (NAM) is used rather than NMN or NR as it has better absorption (bioavailability).
• Supporting overall cellular health – Vitamin C and zinc support overall wellbeing, and black pepper works to increase the absorption of all the other ingredients in the formula.

Every ingredient in Nuchido TIME+ is selected for a specific purpose and included in formats that your cells can use, which is why several are plant extracts. We make products based on science, not just trends.

What are the key cellular processes that NAD+ supports? How can they support starting a new year with renewed cellular health?

After the chaos of the festive season, adding an NAD+ booster like Nuchido TIME+ to your routine can help give you that “get up and go” feeling, making it easier to upgrade your daily habits. When combined with lifestyle practices like exercise, balanced nutrition, and stress management, the results are even more powerful.

NAD+ plays a role in whole-body health, supporting key processes such as:

• Increased mental and physical energy
• Reduced brain fog
• Improved sleep quality
• Improved recovery from exercise
• Supporting skin health and recovery from aesthetic procedures
• Supporting immune function
• Lowering inflammation

How realistic is it for someone to see tangible benefits from boosting NAD+? What types of improvements do you expect?

Our clinical trials show that NAD+ levels rise in just a few days. Over the course of 28 days, we see measurable improvements in key markers of cellular health, including reduced inflammation, activation of healthy ageing pathways, and even a reduction in biological age.

Most people notice a difference within the first month—especially in energy levels and mental clarity, with brain fog lifting. The benefits continue to build over time. After three months, many see better sleep quality, healthier skin, and an overall improvement in wellbeing.

Everyone responds differently, so it can be helpful to track metrics like heart rate variability (HRV), sleep quality, or readiness scores using a wearable. Many people do notice improvements in these markers as their cells regain vitality.

There’s a growing number of NAD+ related products and therapies – from precursor supplements to IV infusions. What makes Nuchido’s approach different?

The problem with most NAD+ products is that they don’t address why NAD+ is declining in the first place. They’re like putting a plaster on a deeper issue – and sometimes that can even have negative side effects.

Many precursor supplements contain a single ingredient, but there’s no evidence that the body actually lacks those precursors. It’s like having a leaking sink and just pouring more water in without fixing the holes.

NAD+ injections or pure NAD+ products also have limitations – most cells don’t absorb pure NAD+, and there haven’t been clinical trials to confirm whether injections are safe or effective.

When I developed Nuchido, I took a different approach. I researched all the factors that cause NAD+ levels to decline with age and created a multi-ingredient formula designed to address each one.

As a scientist, it was also crucial to me that the product is backed by clinical evidence. That’s why Nuchido TIME+ has undergone gold-standard clinical trials, published in peer-reviewed journals. This is highly unusual for a supplement, especially since there’s no legal requirement for supplements to be tested before going to market. Anyone can sell a pill and make claims, but I wanted Nuchido to be both accessible and scientifically validated, giving people a product they can trust.

Looking ahead, what does the future of cellular health and longevity look like when NAD+ science advances? How do you hope Nuchido will shape that future?

Cellular health has now become something we can measure and meaningfully improve, which means that we are moving from reacting to age-related decline to supporting the cell’s core repair and resilience systems much earlier in life. My hope is that Nuchido helps to lead that shift by grounding longevity in rigorous human data and translating science into interventions people can actually use long-term.

On a personal note, beyond Nuchido, what three lifestyle hacks do you incorporate into your routine to support your cellular health?

Our longevity is around 80% determined by lifestyle, not genetics. That’s why I always advocate prioritising healthy habits first, then using technology or supplements to enhance those choices.

Here are my top three habits:

1. Exercise – One of the best tools for longevity. Exercise benefits your whole body, from boosting brain function to lowering inflammation and even reversing biological age. I combine cardio to support cardiovascular health with weight training to maintain muscle mass, which becomes increasingly important as we age.
2. Time outdoors – Spending time in nature helps lower stress and supports healthy ageing. One study found that people who live near green spaces have an average biological age 2.5 years younger than those who don’t. Getting outside earlier in the day also exposes you to natural sunlight, which helps regulate your circadian rhythm and improves sleep quality.
3. Red-light therapy – I’m a big fan of red-light therapy for cellular health. It supercharges mitochondria, which naturally decline in efficiency as we get older. Studies show red light can support mitochondrial function, reduce inflammation, and even increase collagen production in the skin.

Want to learn more about NAD+ and Nuchido? Tune into our conversation with Dr Nichola Conlon here