Creatine in Dementia and the Aging Brain

Creatine in Dementia and the Aging Brain

Alvin Sherman Library

Dementia is a syndrome that interferes with cognitive functions and an individual's ability to function independently. Dementia includes several subtypes caused by different neuropathologies, with Alzheimer's disease (AD) being the most common form. AD is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid beta plaques and neurofibrillary tau tangles in the brain, associated with neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and deficits in energy metabolism. While treatments for AD exist, the efficacy, safety, and cost are a concern, highlighting the need for additional prevention and treatment strategies. This literature review examines the role of creatine in brain health and disease, including AD and related dementias. Although this supplement has been widely used by athletes to increase fat-free mass and enhance exercise performance, it has more recently attracted attention for its potential to improve brain health. There is evidence that creatine has a positive effect on the healthy aging brain, improving cognition and attention in healthy adults, and significantly extending lifespan in healthy mouse models. The supplement has also been implicated as a possible treatment for AD by attenuating neuroinflammation and oxidative stress while boosting brain energy levels. Creatine has been shown to seemingly improve spatial memory and overall brain health in AD mouse models as well as improve cognition and brain creatine concentration in AD patients. Taken together, these findings provide strong support for creatine's therapeutic potential to promote healthy brain aging.