Slovenia's Biohackers: Pioneering NAD⁺ & Sirtuin Pathways for Longevity & Healthy Aging

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    Biohackers and the NAD⁺–Sirtuin Pathways: Innovations for Longevity and Healthy Aging

    Slovenia’s Biohackers: Pioneering NAD⁺ & Sirtuin Pathways for Longevity & Healthy Aging

    Inside Slovenia’s Data-Driven Longevity Movement

    From Ljubljana to the Julian Alps, Slovenia’s biohacking community is shaping a European hub for evidence-based longevity innovation. Uniting researchers, clinicians, and quantified-self enthusiasts, these pioneers focus on mitochondrial health, circadian alignment, and recovery science to extend healthspan. At the center of their work is NAD⁺ optimization and sirtuin activation—a synergistic approach aimed at supporting cellular resilience, metabolic flexibility, and sustainable healthy aging.

    NAD⁺ is a vital coenzyme that powers redox reactions, cellular energy production, and DNA maintenance, while the sirtuin family (SIRT1–SIRT7) helps regulate stress responses, autophagy, and metabolic pathways. Emerging research suggests that strategies which support NAD⁺ status and sirtuin signaling may help maintain cellular function across the lifespan. Slovenia’s biohackers emphasize fundamentals—sleep and light hygiene, nutrient-dense diets, strength and zone-2 training, breathwork, heat/cold exposure—alongside investigational approaches such as nicotinamide riboside (NR) and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), tracked with wearables and lab biomarkers. These practices are exploratory and should be personalized with qualified guidance.

    What sets Slovenia apart is its cross-disciplinary ecosystem: universities and startups collaborating with wellness retreats, community labs, and meetups to translate NAD⁺ metabolism and sirtuin pathways into practical, ethical, and measurable protocols. With access to pristine nature for recovery and a culture of open science, the country is emerging as a credible node for healthy aging in Central Europe. Explore our guides, interviews, and event updates to discover how Slovenia’s biohackers are advancing data-driven longevity through responsible experimentation and continuous improvement.

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    From Biomarkers to Protocols: Practical NAD⁺ & Sirtuin Strategies in Slovenia

    Validation, Monitoring, and Community Standards

    Slovenia’s biohackers translate research into measurable practice by pairing wearables with research-grade assays. Beyond daily HRV, resting heart rate, sleep staging, and VO₂ proxies, cohorts collaborate with university partners to quantify whole-blood NAD⁺, NADH, and the NAD⁺/NADH ratio, explore CD38 expression, and observe downstream sirtuin targets in exploratory settings. Functional phenotypes—grip strength, gait speed, DEXA body composition, and cognitive reaction time—provide real-world endpoints aligned with healthy aging. Data stewardship follows GDPR and open-science norms so protocols remain transparent, reproducible, and ethically grounded.

    Foundational levers are still the engine of results. Circadian-consistent routines, bright morning light in Ljubljana’s Tivoli Park, and evening blue‑light minimization support endogenous clocks that influence mitochondrial health and potential sirtuin activation. Strength and zone‑2 sessions on alpine trails, sauna heat with cold‑river immersions in the Soča Valley, breathwork, and structured recovery microcycles reinforce metabolic flexibility. Nutrient-dense, Mediterranean‑influenced local cuisine—seasonal vegetables, fermented foods, omega‑3‑rich fish, and pasture‑raised proteins—prioritizes protein adequacy and micronutrients that may indirectly support NAD⁺ metabolism while stabilizing energy and mood.

    Exploratory interventions are introduced cautiously and tracked longitudinally. Some participants evaluate nicotinamide riboside (NR), nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), polyphenols such as resveratrol or quercetin, and supportive cofactors (e.g., riboflavin, magnesium) that intersect with redox pathways and possible sirtuin signaling. Because evidence and regulations continue to evolve across the EU, experiments are personalized, time‑bounded, and supervised where appropriate, with attention to interactions, contraindications, and diminishing‑returns analyses. The guiding principle: lifestyle first, supplements second, measurement always.

    Slovenia’s cross‑disciplinary ecosystem—universities, startups, wellness retreats around Bled and Bohinj, and community labs—accelerates idea‑to‑practice translation. Meetups feature protocol reviews, case studies, and preregistered n‑of‑1 trials, while open dashboards share anonymized outcomes on longevity markers. Whether you’re a clinician, researcher, or curious self‑experimenter, explore our guides and interviews, subscribe for event updates, and join a community advancing data‑driven healthy aging through responsible experimentation and continuous improvement.

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      7. Retest your Gut Microbiome

      After your 3-month Noory subscription has ended, you can perform a new gut microbiome test and hopefully see the desired improvements in your test results. A new gut test will also update your nutrition recommendations and nutritional targets to the Noory platform so that you can start another 3-month improvement process. You can also select a new target group in the InnerBuddies platform if you want to set different objectives for the new 3-month period.

    The InnerBuddies module "Longevity & Healthy Aging" gives you insight in:

    • Gut Microbiome & Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs)

      SCFAs contribute to anti-inflammation, gut health, and metabolic regulation, all linked to longevity. SCFA's functions as the base mechanism for the other categories. Butyrate gets high weight because of its robust evidence base in inflammation control, gut barrier integrity, and mitochondrial health — all critical for longevity. Propionate pathways are also key, especially for metabolic aging. Acetate is more abundant but generally has broader and more moderate effects; still important, especially as a substrate and signaling molecule.

    • Anti-Inflammatory & Immune Modulation

      Chronic inflammation accelerates aging; these pathways reduce inflammatory markers. Bile acids are among the most potent microbial immunomodulators with systemic relevance (gut-liver-brain axis, mucosal immunity). Tryptophan-derived indoles are among the most potent microbial immunomodulators with systemic relevance (gut-liver-brain axis, mucosal immunity). Polyamines offer both immunomodulatory and cell-protective benefits, especially in aging tissue. LPS and ammonia detox are supportive pathways—critical but more indirect in their effects.

    • Energy Metabolism & Mitochondrial Health

      Efficient energy metabolism supports cellular function, reduces oxidative stress, and enhances lifespan. TCA cycle and ETC dominate due to their centrality in mitochondrial health, bioenergetics, and ROS control — all of which are strongly linked to aging processes. Fat oxidation (FAO) supports metabolic flexibility, ketogenesis, and fasting states — overlapping with caloric restriction benefits. BCAA metabolism is double-edged: essential for mitochondrial function but excessive levels may promote mTOR activation and insulin resistance — balance is critical.

    • Cellular Repair, DNA Protection & Autophagy

      These pathways regulate DNA repair, cellular stress resistance, and autophagy, essential for longevity. Methionine / glutathione gets top weight for direct protection against oxidative stress, a primary driver of DNA damage. NAD⁺ biosynthesis is central to sirtuin-driven longevity mechanisms and DNA repair. Folate supports DNA stability but has more indirect or cofactor-like effects compared to the above.

    • Caloric Restriction & Fasting Mimicry

      Certain pathways mimic the benefits of fasting and caloric restriction, which are linked to lifespan extension.

    Targeted Recommendations

    The module "Longevity & Healthy Aging" provides you with targeted nuttrition recommendations. Targeted not only on your unique gut microbiome but also targeted on the metabolic pathways that, according to the latest scientific publications, are important for Longevity & Healthy Aging.

    • Personalized on the DNA of your own Gut Microbiome

      Receive nutrition recommendations that according to our self-learning algorithms and our large customer database have the highest impact on your own unique gut microbiome.

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    • Actionable

      Nutrition recommendations that you can just buy in your local supermarket. For your convenience, we also provide daily dosage recommendations.

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    How can InnerBuddies support in reducing your Biological Age and supporting Longevity & Healthy Aging?

    • Improved Digestive Health

      Optimizing the gut microbiome enhances digestion and nutrient absorption, ensuring the body gets vital vitamins and minerals necessary for cellular repair and maintenance, which supports overall health and slows biological aging.

    • Reduced Inflammation

      A balanced gut microbiome helps reduce chronic systemic inflammation—a major driver of aging and age-related diseases—thereby protecting tissues and organs and promoting healthy aging.

    • Enhanced Immune Function

      Gut health directly influences the immune system. Strengthening the microbiome boosts immunity, lowering the risk of infections and age-related immune decline, contributing to longevity.

    • Mental Health and Cognitive Function

      The gut-brain axis connects gut health with brain function. A healthy microbiome can improve mood, reduce anxiety, and support cognitive health, helping maintain mental sharpness with age.

    • Metabolic Health and Weight Management

      Microbiome-based nutrition helps regulate metabolism and blood sugar levels, reducing risks for diabetes and cardiovascular disease, which are linked to accelerated aging.

    • Antioxidant Support and Cellular Repair

      Supplements tailored to the gut microbiome can enhance antioxidant activity and promote cellular repair processes, protecting DNA from damage and slowing biological aging.