You’re sitting at your desk, staring at the screen, and the words just won’t come. Your brain feels like it’s running through molasses. Coffee isn’t cutting it anymore - sound familiar?
I’ve been there. And lately, I’ve been hearing a lot about something called NAD+ IV therapy from friends, wellness podcasts, and even my meditation instructor. The claims? Better focus, sharper thinking, more mental clarity. Naturally, I got curious.
What Exactly Is NAD+ Anyway?
NAD+ stands for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. Yeah, it’s a mouthful. But here’s the simple version: it’s a coenzyme that exists in every single cell of your body. Think of it as the spark plug that keeps your cellular engines running.
Your mitochondria-those tiny powerhouses inside your cells-need NAD+ to convert food into energy. Without enough of it, everything slows down. Your brain included.
Here’s the kicker. NAD+ levels naturally decline as we age. By the time you hit 50, you’ve got about half the NAD+ you had at 20. Some researchers believe this drop contributes to that foggy feeling many people experience as they get older.
Why People Are Turning to IV Therapy
You can take NAD+ supplements orally. Plenty of people do. But IV therapy delivers it directly into your bloodstream, bypassing your digestive system entirely. Proponents argue this means higher absorption rates and faster results.
A typical session lasts anywhere from two to four hours. You sit in a comfortable chair, an IV drip goes into your arm, and you wait. Some clinics offer sessions as short as 90 minutes with lower doses.
The experience varies. Some folks report feeling energized almost immediately. Others say they felt slightly nauseous during the infusion but noticed improvements in the days following. A friend of mine described it as “turning the lights back on” in her brain after years of perimenopause fog.
The Science: What Do We Actually Know?
Let’s be real here. The research on NAD+ IV therapy specifically for cognitive enhancement in healthy adults is still pretty limited. Most studies have focused on NAD+ precursors like nicotinamide riboside (NR) or nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), which you take orally.
A 2020 study published in Nature Communications showed that boosting NAD+ levels in mice improved cognitive function and reduced neuroinflammation. Mice aren’t humans, obviously. But the results got scientists excited.
Another study from 2022 looked at NAD+ levels in people with mild cognitive impairment. Lower levels correlated with worse cognitive performance. Correlation isn’t causation, but it’s a breadcrumb worth following.
The honest truth? We need more human clinical trials specifically examining IV NAD+ for mental clarity. The anecdotal evidence is compelling - the mechanistic science makes sense. But we’re not at the point where anyone can say definitively “this works for everyone.
Who’s Actually Trying This?
The early adopters tend to fall into a few camps.
Biohackers and optimization enthusiasts were first. These are the folks who track their sleep with Oura rings, take cold plunges, and experiment with anything that might give them an edge.
Then came the burnout crowd. High-powered executives, entrepreneurs working 80-hour weeks, healthcare workers running on fumes. People who’ve tried everything else and still feel depleted.
More recently, I’ve noticed wellness-focused individuals in their 40s, 50s, and 60s showing interest. They’re not necessarily sick. They just want to feel as sharp as they did a decade ago.
And then there are people dealing with specific issues-recovering from addiction, managing chronic fatigue, or experiencing post-viral symptoms. Some addiction treatment centers have been using NAD+ therapy for years, claiming it helps with withdrawal and brain repair.
What a Session Actually Looks Like
I talked to Sarah, a 47-year-old marketing director who tried NAD+ IV therapy after months of brain fog following a viral infection.
“I walked in skeptical,” she told me. “The clinic was nice, kind of spa-like. They checked my vitals, asked about my medical history, and explained what to expect.
The infusion started slowly. About 30 minutes in, Sarah felt a tightness in her chest and some nausea. “They slowed the drip rate and it passed. Apparently that’s common with higher doses.
By the end of the three-hour session, she felt tired but calm. “Like after a really good workout. " The next morning - different story.
“I woke up and my brain just felt… clear. I hadn’t felt that way in months. I could focus on tasks without constantly losing my train of thought.
Sarah did a series of four sessions over two weeks. The effects, she says, lasted about six weeks before she noticed a gradual return of some fogginess. She now does maintenance sessions every couple months.
The Downsides Nobody Talks About
This stuff isn’t cheap. A single session can run anywhere from $250 to $1,000 depending on the dose and the clinic. A full protocol of multiple sessions? You’re looking at several thousand dollars. Insurance doesn’t cover it.
There’s also the time commitment. Sitting in a chair for three or four hours isn’t nothing. For busy people, that’s a real barrier.
Side effects during infusion are common, though usually mild. Nausea, chest tightness, flushing, headaches. Most clinics manage these by adjusting the drip rate. Serious adverse events are rare but theoretically possible with any IV treatment.
And here’s something worth considering: the quality of clinics varies wildly. Some are run by physicians with proper protocols. Others are essentially med spas with minimal oversight. Do your research. Ask about their credentials, their protocols, and what happens if you have a reaction.
Alternatives Worth Considering
Not ready to commit to IV therapy? You’ve got options.
NAD+ precursor supplements like NMN and NR are widely available. They’re cheaper, more convenient, and have a growing body of research behind them. Results may take longer to notice, and absorption rates are lower, but for many people they’re a reasonable starting point.
Lifestyle factors matter too. Regular exercise has been shown to boost NAD+ levels naturally. So has intermittent fasting. Some research suggests that heat stress-like sauna use-may also help.
Sleep is huge. Poor sleep tanks your NAD+ levels. If you’re not sleeping well, no amount of supplementation will fully compensate.
And let’s not forget the basics. Meditation, stress management, social connection-these all affect cognitive function in ways that sometimes get overlooked in our obsession with optimization hacks.
My Take On All This
Look, I’m genuinely intrigued by NAD+ therapy. The underlying science makes biological sense. The anecdotal reports are hard to ignore. And as someone who’s noticed my own mental sharpness fluctuating more in recent years, the appeal.
But I’m also cautious about getting swept up in wellness trends before the evidence catches up. We’ve seen this before-with things that turned out to be overhyped and things that turned out to be legitimate. The jury’s still out on where NAD+ IV therapy lands.
If you’re considering it, here’s my advice: find a reputable clinic with medical oversight. Start with a conservative dose. Track how you feel before, during, and after-not just immediately, but over weeks. And manage your expectations - this isn’t a magic bullet. Nothing is.
For some people, NAD+ IV therapy might be genuinely helpful. For others, the same money might be better spent on a sleep specialist, a good therapist, or a meditation retreat. Only you can decide what makes sense for your situation.
The brain fog struggle is real. And in that struggle, it’s tempting to reach for something that promises quick results. Just make sure you’re reaching with your eyes open.