The decisive question
Which changes in energy metabolism matter to the work that an aging tissue must perform?
Why this direction
The program would compare target engagement with functional benefit. It would also distinguish correction of a specific engineered deficiency from improvement in ordinary aging. Those distinctions determine whether a finding is ready for the next experiment.
What a useful result would need
- A prespecified tissue-performance measure
- Independent confirmation of the intended metabolic change
- A measure of cellular stress or unintended cost
- Evidence that the effect is not explained by cell-number differences
Advance and stop conditions
A biochemical change alone does not meet the functional gate.
Do not generalize a deficiency-rescue model to healthy humans.
Include null and adverse findings in the decision record.
What is not being claimed
No NAD supplement, anti-aging prescription, or personalized mitochondrial treatment is offered.