Human study testing creatine as a potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease
The results from the first human study testing Creatine as a potential treatment for
Alzheimer's disease were just published on May 19th.
Let's break it down for you:
20 people with Alzheimer's disease took 20 grams of creatine monohydrate daily for 8 weeks. Researchers measured brain creatine levels and cognitive function before and after.
The results showed brain creatine levels increased on average by 11% and multiple cognitive measures improved, including working memory, attention, and reading ability.
Why this matters:
Alzheimer's disease damages the brain's ability to produce energy efficiently. Creatine helps cells make and use energy better, which is especially important for the brain since it needs
lots of energy to function properly.
Previous studies in mice showed creatine could improve memory and reduce the toxic protein buildup that commonly leads to Alzheimer's.
However, this is the first study to test it in humans with the disease.
What this means:
While this was a small study without a placebo group, the results suggest creatine might help support brain function in Alzheimer's patients.
Larger studies with placebo controls are needed to confirm these findings, but this represents an encouraging first step toward a potential new treatment approach.
As always, we believe in sharing promising research while being honest about limitations - this study shows potential, but more research is needed.