Creatine and Cognitive Function
by Darryl Booker, MS
NSCA Coach
September 2025
Vol 12, Issue 2
This article aims to explore the potential cognitive benefits of creatine supplementation across diverse populations and conditions.
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This article originally appeared in NSCA Coach, a quarterly publication for NSCA Members that provides valuable takeaways for every level of strength and conditioning coach. You can find scientifically based articles specific to a wide variety of your athletes’ needs with Nutrition, Programming, and Youth columns. Read more articles from NSCA Coach »
REFERENCES
- Beal, MF. Neuroprotective effects of creatine. Amino Acids 40(5): 1305-1313, 2011.
- Benton, D, and Rachel D. The influence of creatine supplementation on the cognitive functioning of vegetarians and omnivores. The British Journal of Nutrition 105(7): 1100-1105, 2011.
- Butts, J, Jacobs, B, and Silvis, M. Creatine use in sports. Sports Health 10(1): 31-34, 2018.
- Candow, DG, Forbes, SC, Ostojic, SM, Prokopidis, K, Stock, MS, Harmon, KK, et al. “Heads up” for creatine supplementation and its potential applications for brain health and function. Sports Medicine (Auckland, NZ) 53(1): 49-65, 2023.
- Cook, CJ, Crewther, BT, Kilduff, LP, Drawer, S, and Gaviglio, CM. Skill execution and sleep deprivation: Effects of acute caffeine or creatine supplementation—A randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition8(2): 2011.
- Dechent, P, Pouwels, PJW, Wilken, B, and Hanefeld, F. Increase of total creatine in human brain after oral supplementation of creatine monohydrate. The American Journal of Physiology 277(3): 698-704, 1999.
- Devries, MC, and Phillips, SM. Creatine supplementation during resistance training in older adults: A meta-analysis. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 46(6): 1194-1203, 2014.
- Dolan, E, Gualano, B, and Rawson, ES. Beyond muscle: The effects of creatine supplementation on brain creatine, cognitive processing, and traumatic brain injury. European Journal of Sport Science19(1): 1-14, 2019.
- Fernandes-Pires, G, and Braissant, O. Current and potential new treatment strategies for creatine deficiency syndromes. Molecular Genetics and Metabolism 135(1): 15-26, 2022.
- Forbes, SC, Cordingley, DM, Cornish, SM, Gualano, B, Roschel, H, Ostojic, SM, et al. Effects of creatine supplementation on brain function and health. Nutrients14: 921, 2022.
- Hall, M, Manetta, E, and Tupper, K. Creatine supplementation: An update. Current Sports Medicine Reports 20(7): 338-344, 2021.
- Prokopidis, K, Giannos, P, Triantafyllidis, KK, Kechagias, KS, Forbes, SC, Candow, DG. Effects of creatine supplementation on memory in healthy individuals: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Nutrition Reviews 8(4): 416-427, 2023.
- Rae, C, Digney, A, McEwan, S, and Bates, T. Oral creatine monohydrate supplementation improves brain performance: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over trial. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 270(1529): 2147-2150, 2003.
- Sakellaris, G, Kotsiou, M, Tamiolaki, M, Kalostos, G, Tsapaki, E, Spanaki, M, et al. Prevention of complications related to traumatic brain injury in children and adolescents with creatine administration: an open-label randomized pilot study. The Journal of Trauma 61(2): 322-329. 2006.
- Sakellaris, G, Nasis, G, Kotsiou, M, Tamiolaki, M, Charissis, G, and Evangeliou, A. Prevention of traumatic headache, dizziness and fatigue with creatine administration. A pilot study. Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway) 97(1): 31-34, 2008.
- Sandkühler, JF, Kersting, X, Faust, A, Königs, EK, Altman, G, Ettinger, U, et al. The effects of creatine supplementation on cognitive performance – A randomised controlled study. BMC Medicine 21(1): 440, 2023,
- Snow, WM. Chronic dietary creatine enhances hippocampal-dependent spatial memory, bioenergetics, and levels of plasticity-related proteins associated with NF-κB. Learning and Memory 25(2): 54-66, 2018.
- Sullivan, PG, Geiger, JD, Mattson, MP, and Scheff, SW. Dietary supplement creatine protects against traumatic brain injury. Annals of Neurology 48(5): 723-729, 2000.
- Turner, CE, Byblow, WD, and Gant, N. Creatine supplementation enhances corticomotor excitability and cognitive performance during oxygen deprivation. The Journal of Neuroscience: The Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience 35(4): 1773-1780, 2015.
- 20.Wax, B, Kerksick, CM, Jagim, A, Mayo, JJ, Lyons, BC, et al. Creatine for exercise and sports performance, with recovery considerations for healthy populations. Nutrients 13(6): 1915, 2021.
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Darryl Booker
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Darryl Booker holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Medicine and a Master of Science degree in Health. Booker combines academic expertise with ...
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Coaches
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Topics:
Exercise Science Nutrition Exercise Technique Program design Testing and Evaluation Client Consultation|Assessment Safety Basic Pathophysiology and Science of Health Status or Condition and Disorder or Disease Professional Development
Exercise Science Nutrition Exercise Technique Program design Testing and Evaluation Client Consultation|Assessment Safety Basic Pathophysiology and Science of Health Status or Condition and Disorder or Disease Professional Development
Keywords:
Supplements Nutrition mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) Brain Bioenergetics Neurological diseases Memory Cognitive Performance
Supplements Nutrition mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) Brain Bioenergetics Neurological diseases Memory Cognitive Performance
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