NMN Works on Both the Brain and the Gut—At the Same Time
As the global population continues to age, addressing age-related cognitive decline and physical deterioration has become a major scientific challenge. In April 2025, a groundbreaking study published in Frontiers in Pharmacology delivered exciting news: Nicotinamide Mononucleotide (NMN), a multifunctional therapeutic agent, is opening new pathways in anti-aging through its unique and powerful mechanisms.
This research demonstrates that NMN does not act on a single organ, but rather simultaneously supports brain health and gut integrity, offering a more comprehensive approach to healthy aging.
This research demonstrates that NMN does not act on a single organ, but rather simultaneously supports brain health and gut integrity, offering a more comprehensive approach to healthy aging.
PART 01
NMN: Activating a New Anti-Aging Pathway
NMN is a critical precursor of NAD⁺, a molecule essential for cellular energy metabolism. By significantly increasing NAD⁺ levels in the body, NMN activates the Sirt1 / AMPK / PGC-1α signaling pathway. This chain reaction:
Enhances mitochondrial function
Improves antioxidant capacity
Reduces inflammation
Prevents cell death
As a result, NMN provides strong protection for neural cognitive function and intestinal homeostasis in aging models.
In short, NMN helps “recharge” aging cells and restore balance from the inside out.
When the Sirt1 inhibitor (Ex527) was introduced, NMN’s effects were partially reversed, indicating that its benefits are closely linked to the Sirt1 pathway.
Figure 1: NMN improves mobility and enhances learning and memory in aging mice.
Serum SOD and CAT
Brain SOD1 and SOD2 levels
The antioxidant effects were weakened when Sirt1 was inhibited, again confirming the Sirt1-dependent protective role of NMN.
Figure 2: NMN alleviates oxidative stress in aging mice.
These benefits were reversed by the Sirt1 inhibitor, indicating that NMN combats chronic inflammation by activating the Sirt1 pathway.
Figure 3: NMN reduces inflammation and AGE accumulation in the aging brain.
Increasing: norepinephrine (NE), serotonin (5-HT), glutamate, and GABA
Reducing: dopamine (DA)
This effect was also reversed by Sirt1 inhibition, demonstrating that NMN helps rebalance brain chemistry in an aging state.
Figure 4: Effects of NMN on neurotransmitter levels in the mouse brain.
This indicates that NMN may slow cellular aging by suppressing key senescence signals via Sirt1 activation.
Figure 5: NMN reduces expression of senescence-related proteins (p16 & p21).
Fewer TUNEL-positive cells
Restoration of the Bcl-2/Bax ratio
Stabilized mitochondrial apoptosis pathway
When Sirt1 was inhibited, this protection disappeared, clearly confirming NMN’s Sirt1-dependent neuroprotective effect.
Figure 6: NMN reduces brain cell apoptosis in aging models.
Restored epithelial structure
Improved crypt depth and villus height
Increased the number of protective goblet cells
These findings highlight NMN’s remarkable ability to restore intestinal barrier integrity and fight age-related gut dysfunction.
Figure 7: NMN protects the intestinal mucosal barrier in aging mice.
This study not only confirms NMN’s powerful potential to improve cognitive function and repair the gut barrier — it also establishes a solid scientific foundation for its use in age-related neurodegenerative and intestinal disorders.
As a national-level “Little Giant” specialized enterprise, Bangtai Biotech has achieved green, large-scale production of NMN using its proprietary full-enzyme catalytic process. With its exclusive Bonpure® seven-step purification technology, Bangtai ensures that NMN purity remains above 99.5%, supported by 24 NMN-related invention patents, ranking among the top globally.
For consumers who pursue healthy aging, choosing NMN products with clear scientific backing and strict production standards is a smart and reliable decision.
Bangtai Biotech is ready to work hand in hand with global partners to accelerate the industrial application of anti-aging science — and provide truly science-verified health solutions for a better future.
Enhances mitochondrial function
Improves antioxidant capacity
Reduces inflammation
Prevents cell death
As a result, NMN provides strong protection for neural cognitive function and intestinal homeostasis in aging models.
In short, NMN helps “recharge” aging cells and restore balance from the inside out.
PART 02
Scientific Evidence: The Multiple Benefits of NMN
NMN Improves Physical Performance and Learning Ability
Behavioral tests confirmed that NMN significantly enhanced the physical activity of aging mice. In open-field experiments, both movement distance and speed increased. In the Morris water maze, a trend toward improved spatial learning and memory was observed.When the Sirt1 inhibitor (Ex527) was introduced, NMN’s effects were partially reversed, indicating that its benefits are closely linked to the Sirt1 pathway.
Figure 1: NMN improves mobility and enhances learning and memory in aging mice.
NMN Reduces Oxidative Stress
Analysis of blood serum and brain tissue showed that NMN effectively reduced oxidative stress caused by aging. At doses of 250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg, NMN significantly increased:Serum SOD and CAT
Brain SOD1 and SOD2 levels
The antioxidant effects were weakened when Sirt1 was inhibited, again confirming the Sirt1-dependent protective role of NMN.
Figure 2: NMN alleviates oxidative stress in aging mice.
NMN Slows Aging Through Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Glycation Effects
NMN significantly reduced the levels of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, while increasing the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10.These benefits were reversed by the Sirt1 inhibitor, indicating that NMN combats chronic inflammation by activating the Sirt1 pathway.
Figure 3: NMN reduces inflammation and AGE accumulation in the aging brain.
NMN Regulates Neurotransmitter Balance
Using LC-MS/MS analysis, researchers found that NMN (250/500 mg/kg) restored the balance of key neurotransmitters by:Increasing: norepinephrine (NE), serotonin (5-HT), glutamate, and GABA
Reducing: dopamine (DA)
This effect was also reversed by Sirt1 inhibition, demonstrating that NMN helps rebalance brain chemistry in an aging state.
Figure 4: Effects of NMN on neurotransmitter levels in the mouse brain.
NMN Regulates Aging-Related Gene Expression
Western blot results revealed that NMN significantly reduced the expression of aging-related proteins p16 and p21 in the brain.This indicates that NMN may slow cellular aging by suppressing key senescence signals via Sirt1 activation.
Figure 5: NMN reduces expression of senescence-related proteins (p16 & p21).
NMN Reduces Neuronal Apoptosis
NMN effectively decreased neuronal apoptosis in aging mice, as shown by:Fewer TUNEL-positive cells
Restoration of the Bcl-2/Bax ratio
Stabilized mitochondrial apoptosis pathway
When Sirt1 was inhibited, this protection disappeared, clearly confirming NMN’s Sirt1-dependent neuroprotective effect.
Figure 6: NMN reduces brain cell apoptosis in aging models.
NMN Repairs the Intestinal Barrier
Histological investigation of the colon showed that NMN significantly repaired gut damage caused by aging:Restored epithelial structure
Improved crypt depth and villus height
Increased the number of protective goblet cells
These findings highlight NMN’s remarkable ability to restore intestinal barrier integrity and fight age-related gut dysfunction.
Figure 7: NMN protects the intestinal mucosal barrier in aging mice.
PART 03
Looking Ahead: From Laboratory Discovery to Health Applications
This study not only confirms NMN’s powerful potential to improve cognitive function and repair the gut barrier — it also establishes a solid scientific foundation for its use in age-related neurodegenerative and intestinal disorders.
As a national-level “Little Giant” specialized enterprise, Bangtai Biotech has achieved green, large-scale production of NMN using its proprietary full-enzyme catalytic process. With its exclusive Bonpure® seven-step purification technology, Bangtai ensures that NMN purity remains above 99.5%, supported by 24 NMN-related invention patents, ranking among the top globally.
For consumers who pursue healthy aging, choosing NMN products with clear scientific backing and strict production standards is a smart and reliable decision.
Bangtai Biotech is ready to work hand in hand with global partners to accelerate the industrial application of anti-aging science — and provide truly science-verified health solutions for a better future.
