Episode
The Exhaustion Sleep Can't Fix — A Scientist Explains NAD Depletion
- Podcast
- The Dr. Leaf Show
- Published
- May 27, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2140
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Summary
NAD is the molecule in every cell that powers your energy — and there's a kind of exhaustion, the kind a good night's sleep and a weekend off can't fix, that comes from running low on it. If you're a woman in your 40s, 50s, or 60s caring for aging parents while raising kids and running a career — the sandwich generation — that depletion is real, and it's happening at the cellular level. In this episode, Dr. Caroline Leaf sits down with Mona Rosene, MS, RD, Global Director of Scientific Affairs at Niagen Bioscience, to explore NAD — the coenzyme that powers your mitochondria and fuels over 500 metabolic processes. NAD drops roughly 65% between the ages of 30 and 70, and chronic stress, menopause, poor sleep, and illness deplete it even faster. Mona explains what that means for your energy, brain fog, hormones, and inflammation — and what you can actually do about it. 🔬 What you'll learn: - Why caregiver exhaustion isn't fixed by sleep — and what's actually being depleted inside your cells - What NAD+ is, why it powers your mitochondria, and how it fuels over 500 metabolic processes in the body - How perimenopause, menopause, chronic stress, and aging compound to drain your cellular energy - Why an unmanaged mind "batters the brain and body" and burns through your NAD+ reserves - The lifestyle-first approach to rebuilding energy — and when supplementation actually makes sense - The connection between NAD+, inflammation, PCOS, brain fog, and hormonal health 📚 Resources: 🔗 Tru Niagen (use code DRLEAF20 for 20% off): https://www.truniagen.com 🔗 Guest: Mona Rosene, Niagen Bioscience 🔗 Dr. Leaf's Website: https://drleaf.com 🔗 1:1 Coaching with Dr. Leaf: https://drleaf.com/coaching-1-1 🔗 Neurocycle App: https://theswitch.app Sponsors helping make this show possible: • Shopify:…