"Heads Up" for Creatine Supplementation and its Potential Applications for Brain Health and Function

Abstract

There is emerging interest regarding the potential beneficial effects of creatine supplementation on indices of brain health and function. Creatine supplementation can increase brain creatine stores, which may help explain some of the positive effects on measures of cognition and memory, especially in aging adults or during times of metabolic stress (i.e., sleep deprivation). Furthermore, creatine has shown promise for improving health outcome measures associated with muscular dystrophy, traumatic brain injury (including concussions in children), depression, and anxiety. However, whether any sex- or age-related differences exist in regard to creatine and indices of brain health and function is relatively unknown. The purpose of this narrative review is to: (1) provide an up-to-date summary and discussion of the current body of research focusing on creatine and indices of brain health and function and (2) discuss possible sex- and age-related differences in response to creatine supplementation on brain bioenergetics, measures of brain health and function, and neurological diseases.

Fig. 1

Potential effects of creatine monohydrate on measures of brain function. Creatine reaches the cytosol via CRT’s at the blood–brain barrier, neurons, and oligodendrocytes cells and contributes to the maintenance of glycolytic ATP levels. Creatine enters the mitochondria via MtCKs and converts ATP to PCr through oxidative phosphorylation. ATP and PCr are able to circulate from the mitochondria back into the cytosol, regulating energy requirements which in turn may enhance brain energy metabolism. ADP, adenosine diphosphate; ATP, adenosine triphosphate; CRT, creatine transporter; MtCK, mitochondrial creatine kinase; NMR, nuclear magnetic resonance; PCr, phosphocreatine