The Study
Bioenergetic data from a creatine monohydrate pilot trial in Alzheimer's disease
This study watched what happened to 20 people after they took creatine for 8 weeks. It saw some changes in their blood, but we don’t know if creatine caused those changes — maybe they would’ve happened anyway. It’s like noticing your plant grew taller after you talked to it — you can’t say talking made it grow.
Analysis score
Maximum 44 for a cross-sectional study.
Where the score came from
Scientists gave people with Alzheimer's a daily creatine pill for 8 weeks to see if it helps their cells make more energy.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 544 / 100
Quality score
Snapshots of a population at a single point in time, or descriptions of small groups. Can identify correlations and prevalence, but cannot determine cause and effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes — more ATP/ADP means cells may have more usable energy, which could help brain and body function better, but it's not proven to improve memory or symptoms yet.
- 2In both men and women, blood cells had more ATP (+90%) and ADP (+63%).
- 3Only women showed stronger mitochondrial energy production in blood cells.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Alzheimer's & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions
Year
2026
Authors
Matthew K Taylor, Aaron N. Smith, In‐Young Choi, Phil Lee, Emma Kelly, Tanu Arora, Debra K Sullivan, Jeffrey M. Burns, R. Swerdlow, H. Wilkins
Related Content
Claims (6)
Creatine supplementation is associated with a reduction in the rate of cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease by up to 30 percent.
In adults with Alzheimer's disease, taking 20 grams of creatine monohydrate daily for 8 weeks is associated with higher levels of ADP and ATP in lymphocytes, indicating increased cellular energy availability.
In women with Alzheimer's disease, taking 20 grams of creatine monohydrate daily for 8 weeks is associated with higher mitochondrial respiration in platelets and lymphocytes across multiple energy states.
In adults with Alzheimer's disease, taking 20 grams of creatine monohydrate daily for 8 weeks does not change brain levels of N-acetylaspartate or glutathione.
In adults with Alzheimer's disease, taking 20 grams of creatine monohydrate daily for 8 weeks does not change levels of superoxide or hydrogen peroxide in lymphocytes, indicating no effect on oxidative stress in these blood cells.
In adults with Alzheimer's disease, taking 20 grams of creatine monohydrate daily for 8 weeks is linked to higher levels of ATP and ADP in immune cells in both men and women, and higher mitochondrial respiration in women only.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.