Does taking creatine make your brain work better?
Dose–Response of Creatine Supplementation on Cognitive Function in Healthy Young Adults
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
The 10g/day group showed a trend (p=0.06) toward reduced prefrontal oxyhemoglobin during fast-thinking tasks.
Most assume more brain activity = better performance. Here, less blood flow might mean more efficiency—like a streamlined computer using less power. That’s the opposite of what most expect.
Practical Takeaways
If you're taking creatine for brain power, stop—it won't help if you're a healthy young adult.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
The 10g/day group showed a trend (p=0.06) toward reduced prefrontal oxyhemoglobin during fast-thinking tasks.
Most assume more brain activity = better performance. Here, less blood flow might mean more efficiency—like a streamlined computer using less power. That’s the opposite of what most expect.
Practical Takeaways
If you're taking creatine for brain power, stop—it won't help if you're a healthy young adult.
Publication
Journal
Brain Sciences
Year
2023
Authors
Terence Moriarty, Kelsey Bourbeau, Katie Dorman, Lance Runyon, Noah Glaser, J. Brandt, Mallory Hoodjer, Scott C. Forbes, D. Candow
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Claims (6)
Taking creatine supplements may enhance thinking and memory in older people or those who are sleep-deprived or have cognitive difficulties, but it does not noticeably change thinking skills in healthy young adults.
Taking creatine supplements at 10 or 20 grams per day for six weeks does not improve how quickly healthy young adults process information, remember events, or make decisions.
In healthy young adults, taking 10 grams of creatine daily for six weeks was linked to a small, non-significant decrease in oxygen levels in the prefrontal cortex during tasks requiring quick thinking, which may indicate a change in how the brain uses energy.
Taking creatine supplements at 10 or 20 grams per day for six weeks does not change the level of oxygen in the prefrontal cortex of healthy young adults when they perform memory or decision-making tasks.
Taking creatine supplements at 10–20 grams per day for six weeks does not lead to measurable changes in body fat, muscle mass, how much people move, or how many calories they consume.