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Journal ArticleReviewAgeing research reviews·Aug 2026

Creatine and Dementia: Big Hype, Surprisingly Thin Human Evidence

Key Insight

This review suggests creatine's brain benefits in dementia remain unproven and need proper trials.


Creatine is popular for muscle and increasingly for the brain, so researchers combed through everything published on creatine and dementia. They found just six studies, mostly in animals and cells, and zero controlled clinical trials. One small human pilot with 20 people taking 20g a day for 8 weeks raised brain creatine by 11% and was linked to better flexible thinking. Results were mixed though: one rodent study showed worse spatial memory, and effects seemed to differ between males and females.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure: Authors report no competing interests.

Disclaimer: Research summaries are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your health routine.