Coach Lucy PhD

Creatine is a natural substance that is found mainly in your muscles and brain. It helps your cells produce energy, especially during high-intensity activities. But did you know that creatine can also benefit your brain health in many ways? 😊

In this blog post, I will share with you some of the neuroprotective benefits of creatine supplementation, based on the latest scientific evidence. You will learn how creatine can improve your brain oxygenation, protect you from developing Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases, and enhance your cognitive abilities. Let’s get started!

How Creatine Improves Brain Oxygenation

Your brain needs oxygen to function properly. Oxygen is delivered to your brain cells by blood flow, which can be affected by various factors, such as aging, stress, disease, or injury. When your brain does not get enough oxygen, it can lead to impaired cognition, memory loss, fatigue, and even cell death.

Creatine can help improve your brain oxygenation by increasing the availability of energy in your cells. Creatine acts as a backup source of energy when your cells run out of ATP, the main energy molecule. Creatine can also help buffer against energy fluctuations caused by low oxygen levels. This way, creatine can help your brain cells survive and perform better under hypoxic conditions¹².

How Creatine Protects You from Neurodegenerative Diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases are disorders that cause progressive loss of neurons in the brain. Some of the most common neurodegenerative diseases are Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). These diseases can affect your movement, memory, mood, and quality of life.

Creatine can protect you from neurodegenerative diseases by enhancing the resilience of your neurons to stress and damage. Creatine can help prevent the accumulation of toxic proteins, such as amyloid-beta in Alzheimer’s or alpha-synuclein in Parkinson’s³⁴. Creatine can also help reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, which are major contributors to neuronal degeneration⁵⁶. Creatine can also help modulate the expression of genes involved in neuronal survival and repair⁷.

How Creatine Enhances Your Cognitive Abilities

Cognitive abilities are mental skills that enable you to learn, remember, reason, solve problems, and make decisions. Your cognitive abilities depend on the health and function of your brain cells and networks. As you age or face stressful situations, your cognitive abilities may decline.

Creatine can enhance your cognitive abilities by boosting your brain energy and function. Creatine can improve your memory and intelligence, especially in older adults or during times of metabolic stress (i.e., sleep deprivation)⁸⁹. Creatine can also improve your attention, working memory, mental speed, and executive function¹⁰¹¹. Creatine can also improve your mood and emotional regulation¹².

Conclusion

Creatine is not only a supplement for athletes and bodybuilders. It is also a supplement for your brain health. By taking creatine regularly, you can improve your brain oxygenation, protect yourself from neurodegenerative diseases, and enhance your cognitive abilities. Creatine is safe and well-tolerated by most people¹³, but you should always consult with your doctor before starting any supplementation regimen.

I hope you enjoyed this blog post and learned something new about creatine and its benefits for your brain health. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below. Thank you for reading! 😊

Coach Lucy

Disclaimer: This blog post is based on a scientific article from PubMed, but it is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The information presented here is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for professional consultation with your doctor or health care provider. The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any organization. Please consult your doctor before starting any supplementation regimen.