Nutrition, Metabolism and Dementia PIA - Creatine Treatment: Promising Approach or Dead End

Recorded: February 16, 2021

Creatine, a dietary supplement, has been tested with increasing interest the last 10 years in both animal models and clinical trials. Studies have shown it provides improvements in muscle strength. Some investigators have also proposed it may supply cognitive benefit in those at risk for dementia and help with mental fatigue, sleep deprivation, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and working memory. Moreover, clinical trials have tested creatine in Huntington's disease (HD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), to name a few. Overall, past results in HD, PD, and ALS have been mixed and many important questions remain. Given this, more research is needed to evaluate creatine's effects specifically on cognition, males vs. females, and if it can lower the risk for MCI in dementia. Interestingly, recent clinical trial data in diabetes patients and data from our transgenic Alzheimer's disease (AD) models suggest creatine improves mitochondrial function, learning, memory, and reverses pathology, but in a sex-specific manner.

Moderator: Hussein Yassine

Panelist: Benedict C. Albensi