Harvard Doctor reveals #1 Cause of Aging You've Never Heard Of | Dr. Andrew Salzman

In this episode of The Dr. Josh Axe Show, Dr. Josh Axe sits down with Dr. Andrew Salzman, a Harvard-trained ICU physician and pioneering researcher in NAD, cellular energy, leaky gut, and longevity science, to uncover one of the most important shifts in how we understand aging: your body may not simply be “wearing out” — it may be losing the energy and repair capacity it needs to rebuild itself. Dr. Salzman explains why NAD+ is central to mitochondrial function, ATP production, DNA repair, antioxidant defense, and healthy aging. He breaks down how chronic inflammation, leaky gut, PARP activation, and CD38 can drain NAD levels, leaving cells unable to efficiently produce energy or repair damage. Dr. Axe connects this research to common health struggles like chronic fatigue, hypothyroidism, autoimmune disease, brain fog, poor recovery, gut dysfunction, and accelerated aging. Together, they explore how gut health, inflammation, butyrate-producing foods, NAD precursors, creatine, exercise, and mitochondrial support may help protect cellular energy and promote long-term healthspan. Dr. Salzman also reframes creatine as more than a muscle-building supplement, explaining its role in distributing ATP to the brain, heart, muscles, and immune system. This conversation is a deep dive into NAD+ benefits, mitochondrial health, cellular repair, leaky gut, inflammation, creatine, and natural longevity strategies — and why supporting your body’s repair systems may be one of the most important keys to aging well.