Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for reducing the degree of neural degeneration in a mammal due to acute neural trauma by the administration of a NAD-related compound and for kits useful in the method. NAD-related compounds include quinolinic acid; quinolinic acid ribonucleotide; nicotinamide; nicotinic acid; nicotinic acid ribonucleotide; nicotinic acid ribonucleotide, reduced form; nicotinamide ribonucleotide; nicotinamide ribonucleotide, reduced form; nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide; nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide, reduced form; nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD); nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP); nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, reduced form (NADH); and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, reduced form (NADPH) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.