All the Cool Kids Are Taking Creatine for Brain Health. Here’s Why You Should, Too

Benefits of Supplementing Creatine for Brain Health

May help with cognition

Supplementing creatine may improve short-term memory, intelligence, reasoning, and more (2), but as is the case with any purported benefit of creatine for brain health, there’s still a lot of research to be done. For example, the linked review of studies found short-term memory, intelligence, and reasoning were improved by creatine supplementation; it also found creatine supplementation had conflicting or no effects on “long-term memory, spatial memory, memory scanning, attention, executive function, response inhibition, word fluency, reaction time and mental fatigue.”

Thus far, it’s proven especially beneficial in older adults, where studies have found it to consistently boost memory function (3). 

May help protect the brain from some neurodegenerative diseases (like Alzheimer’s)

We know neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS, and different forms of muscular dystrophy are presently incurable and difficult to stave off and treat. We also know creatine supports brain health, which is one reason why researchers are angling to find if supplementing creatine may be a viable preventative approach. As it stands, it’s a mixed bag. 

There are scant few human clinical trials that suggest that creatine may help ward off or delay the onset of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s (4), but virtually no human studies have proven its effectiveness against other brain diseases like Parkinson’s (5). Animal studies, however, have yielded more promising results to date.

“Animal studies have shown that creatine may offer neuroprotection in neurodegenerative diseases like Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and ALS,” Nicola says. “However, human trials have not fully replicated these effects, showing limited therapeutic benefit in patients with these conditions.”

In short, it’s too soon to tell if supplementing creatine acts as a ward against future neurodegenerative diseases. 

May help recover from brain injuries (like concussions)

“Studies have shown promising results regarding creatine’s potential in mitigating the damaging effects of traumatic brain injury, but further research is necessary to establish its clinical applications,” Nicola says. This might sound familiar, because it is. Studies into creatine’s potential as a post-concussion (and other brain trauma) therapy are new but promising. 

One study (6) found giving creatine to kids and adolescents after traumatic brain injuries improved recovery in a wide array of measurable outcomes: “duration of post-traumatic amnesia (PTA), duration of intubation, intensive care unit (ICU) stay, disability, good recovery, self-care, communication, locomotion, sociability, personality/behavior, and neurophysical and cognitive function.”

Do note: post-brain injury should absolutely and unequivocally be undertaken by a medical professional.