Woman dies after NAD⁺ infusion at wellness clinic

The infusion reportedly contained NAD⁺ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide), a coenzyme central to energy production and DNA repair. NAD⁺ levels decline with age in some tissues, making it a subject of longevity research. The practitioner, who has been arrested, is not licensed to practice medicine in the United States.

What does the science actually say?

The evidence base for intravenous NAD⁺ infusions is particularly thin. Oral precursors such as NR (nicotinamide riboside) and NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) can reliably raise NAD⁺ levels in blood. In animal models, both have improved various age-related outcomes. But human data remain limited, and that applies even more to infusions. As the experts interviewed by Lifespan.io stress, every experimental intervention carries unknown risks, whether from the biology of the therapy itself, manufacturing issues, or errors in preparation and administration.

Longevity researcher Matt Kaeberlein noted this is not the first time someone has been seriously harmed or killed while pursuing an unproven longevity therapy. He urged waiting for the medical examiner’s findings before drawing conclusions about the specific substance involved. What is clear is that the practitioner was unlicensed and the setting was far from clinically safe.

A growing problem in the longevity space

The NAD⁺ market has expanded rapidly in recent years. Nasal sprays, patches, and infusions are widely available despite limited clinical evidence. In the National Institute on Aging’s rigorous Intervention Testing Program, NR extended lifespan in one 2016 study but failed to do so in either sex in follow-up trials.

This case is a stark reminder that the popularity of a supplement or therapy says nothing about its safety or efficacy. Regulatory oversight for many of these products remains limited, and consumers are vulnerable to misleading claims.

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