Creatine supplementation has been shown to improve measures of cognition and memory (primarily in aging adults) and decreases symptoms of sleep deprivation in human and animal populations. Creatine supplementation also shows promise for alleviating some symptoms of TBI, including concussion, and characteristics of muscular dystrophy in humans. The efficacy of creatine for treating symptoms of depression and anxiety is also encouraging but clinical trials examining the effects of creatine (independent of pharmacological interventions) on these mood disorders are needed before a consensus can be reached.
“a high single dose of creatine can partially reverse metabolic alterations and fatigue-related cognitive deterioration”
Source:
Single dose creatine improves cognitive performance and induces changes in cerebral high energy phosphates during sleep deprivation
The inverse effects of creatine supplementation and sleep deprivation on high energy phosphates, neural creatine, and cognitive performances suggest that creatine is a suitable candidate for reducing the negative effects of sleep deprivation. With this, the main obstacle is the limited exogenous uptake by the central nervous system (CNS), making creatine only effective over a long-term diet of weeks. Thus far, only repeated dosing of creatine over weeks has been studied, yielding detectable changes in CNS levels. Based on the hypothesis that a high extracellular creatine availability and increased intracellular energy consumption will temporarily increase the central creatine uptake, subjects were orally administered a high single dose of creatinemonohydrate (0.35 g/kg) while performing cognitive tests during sleep deprivation. Two consecutive 31P-MRS scans, 1H-MRS, and cognitive tests were performed each at evening baseline, 3, 5.5, and 7.5 h after single dose creatine (0.35 g/kg) or placebo during sub-total 21 h sleep deprivation (SD). Our results show that creatine induces changes in PCr/Pi, ATP, tCr/tNAA, prevents a drop in pH level, and improves cognitive performance and processing speed. These outcomes suggest that a high single dose of creatine can partially reverse metabolic alterations and fatigue-related cognitive deterioration.
Jerry Brainium said this years ago. He’s an interesting guy for the guys who want to build muscle. I think he knows a lot about what works from the bodybuilding trenches.
Just now came across this paper. That’s a 30 gram dose for a 90kg guy like me!. I think I’ll give it a try next time I’m sleep-deprived, as long as there aren’t any safety issues with 6x my normal daily dose.
When I open the studies that found a certain positive trend on brain after individuals are supplemented with creatine (or population’s creatine levels analyzed), usually the positive result (some cognitive characteristics) is found among women, not so much for men. This tells me that women’s uptake of creatine is not as optimal, compared to men.
. I think I’ll give it a try next time I’m sleep-deprived, as long as there aren’t any safety issues with 6x my normal daily dose.