Can Creatine Help the Brain Fight Alzheimer’s?

A new pilot study out of Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions is turning heads. Long known as a muscle-building supplement for athletes, creatine is now being investigated for its potential to protect and even improve brain function in people living with Alzheimer’s disease.

And the results? Promising.

A Surprising Role for a Familiar Supplement

Creatine has been a go-to for athletes for decades, supporting strength, power, and recovery. But the brain, like muscle tissue, is a high-demand energy system. It turns out that creatine’s role in cellular energy metabolism may benefit neurons just as much as muscle fibers.

“Creatine helps replenish ATP, the energy currency of the cell, and the brain is a very energy-hungry organ,” explains Dr. Andrew Huberman, neuroscientist and host of the Huberman Lab Podcast.

This 2025 pilot study, led by researchers including Dr. I.Y. Choi and Dr. Andrew N. Smith, tested high-dose creatine monohydrate in humans with Alzheimer’s disease, with early signs pointing to real cognitive benefits.

How Creatine Works (In the Brain & Body)

At its core, creatine supports the production and recycling of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the primary energy molecule used by every cell in your body.

In muscles, this translates to:

• More power during high-intensity efforts

• Faster recovery between reps or sprints

• Greater training volume and muscle growth over time

  
  

In the brain, creatine helps:

• Maintain energy levels during periods of intense cognitive effort

• Protect neurons from oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction

• Support memory, attention, and mental clarity

  
  

“Creatine is like a cellular battery charger. It keeps neurons running efficiently, especially under stress,” says Dr. Peter Attia, physician and longevity expert.

It’s no surprise that creatine levels naturally decline with age, and that low creatine has been linked to neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s, ALS, and Alzheimer’s.

The Study: What They Did

In this new 2025 trial, researchers enrolled 20 individuals with Alzheimer's disease, each of whom received 20 grams of creatine monohydrate daily for 8 weeks. Brain creatine levels were measured using magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and cognitive performance was tracked before and after supplementation.

This wasn’t about proving clinical efficacy just yet, it was about seeing if creatine could be safely taken by Alzheimer’s patients and whether it would reach the brain.

The Results: Cognitive Gains and Brain Uptake

The findings were encouraging:

• High adherence: 19 of 20 participants stuck to the full regimen

• Elevated brain creatine: Measured increases via imaging

• Cognitive improvements: Better scores in memory, reading, and attention

  
  

It’s important to note this was a small, open-label study without a placebo group. But the results support a growing body of evidence that creatine may help protect or improve brain function, not just athletic performance.

Beyond Alzheimer's: What This Means for Everyone

Even if you’re not worried about Alzheimer’s (yet), this study has implications for anyone interested in cognitive performance, longevity, and resilience. Brain energy metabolism doesn’t just drop off in disease, it also declines with aging, chronic stress, sleep deprivation, and overtraining.

That’s where creatine may come in as a low-risk, high-reward intervention.

Dr. Daniel Amen on Creatine and Brain Function:

“Creatine helps your brain cells make energy. I use it in many of my patients with memory problems, brain fog, or mental fatigue. It’s one of those underrated tools with a solid scientific foundation.”

Dr. Amen has long advocated for brain-healthy lifestyle interventions, and he includes creatine in many of his supplement protocols, not for lifting, but for thinking clearly and protecting brain structure.

What This Means for Brain Health

Alzheimer’s disease damages the brain’s ability to produce and use energy. When neurons don’t have enough fuel, cognitive function declines. Creatine helps buffer the energy supply, possibly giving neurons the reserves they need to keep firing.

This could mean:

• Slowing the rate of decline

• Improving quality of life in early stages

• A new low-risk intervention for brain support

“There’s real potential here,” says Huberman. “Creatine has a solid safety profile, it's inexpensive, and if it supports cognitive resilience, that’s a big win.”

So, Should You Take It?

It’s still early days, and this study was designed to test feasibility, not provide definitive treatment guidance. But for healthy adults, creatine is one of the most studied and safest supplements available.

For the brain, it may:

• Help with mental fatigue

• Enhance working memory

• Protect against age-related cognitive decline

  
  

For the body, it’s long proven to:

• Boost strength and endurance

• Improve muscle mass retention (especially with aging)

• Reduce injury risk during training

  
  

Final Thoughts

This new research is exciting, but it’s not a cure. What it does offer is hope, and a reminder that supporting the brain’s energy systems may be one of the smartest ways to age well.

“I take creatine not for vanity, but for vitality,” says Peter Attia. “The brain benefits are what convinced me.”

With more randomized trials on the way, creatine could soon be seen not just as a gym supplement, but a key player in neuroprotection and healthy aging.

Study Reference:Smith AN, Choi IY, Lee P, et al. Creatine monohydrate pilot in Alzheimer's: Feasibility, brain creatine, and cognition. Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions. 2025;11(2):e70101. PMID: 40395689