Is Creatine Good for Alzheimer's Disease?
No, creatine supplementation is not recommended for Alzheimer's disease patients, as authoritative guidelines explicitly advise against nutritional products for correcting cognitive impairment in dementia, and the limited human evidence shows no meaningful clinical benefit.
Guideline-Based Position
The European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) provides the clearest directive on this question:
ESPEN explicitly recommends against any nutritional product for persons with dementia to correct cognitive impairment or prevent further cognitive decline (Grade of evidence: very low). 1
This recommendation encompasses creatine and similar supplements, as ESPEN found insufficient evidence to support the general use of any nutritional compounds beyond correcting documented deficiencies. 1
The guideline emphasizes that while some products are based on sound pathophysiologic concepts, presently available evidence is too weak to recommend their general use. 1
Why the Evidence Doesn't Support Creatine Use
The Single Human Trial Shows Feasibility, Not Efficacy
The most recent and only human trial of creatine in Alzheimer's disease (2025) was a small, single-arm pilot study without a control group:
Only 20 patients with AD received 20g/day creatine for 8 weeks in an uncontrolled design. 2
While the study showed creatine increased brain total creatine by 11% and reported some cognitive improvements on testing, the absence of a placebo control group makes these findings unreliable for determining true efficacy. 2
The study authors themselves acknowledge this was only a feasibility trial and call for future efficacy studies—it was never designed to prove benefit. 2
Animal Studies Don't Translate to Clinical Recommendations
Preclinical studies in AD mouse models have shown improvements in brain bioenergetics and AD biomarkers with creatine supplementation. 3
However, one animal study using an Alzheimer's model found creatine supplementation had no effect on learning, memory retrieval, or neuron apoptosis after amyloid-beta injection. 4
Reviews acknowledge that creatine appears less effective for Alzheimer's disease compared to other neurodegenerative conditions like Huntington's or Parkinson's disease. 5
The Clinical Reality: Prioritize Evidence-Based Care
What Actually Works in Alzheimer's Disease
Only FDA-approved medications (cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine) have demonstrated statistically significant effects on cognition in Alzheimer's disease, though these effects are clinically marginal. 1
Treatment with these approved medications can result in statistically significant but clinically marginal improvement in measures of cognition and global assessment. 1
What You Should Do Instead
Focus on nutritional status, not supplements:
Regular nutritional screening and weight monitoring in all dementia patients is recommended. 6
Provide adequate nutrition according to individual preferences in pleasant meal environments. 6
Avoid unnecessary dietary restrictions that could worsen nutritional status in this vulnerable population. 6, 7
Use oral nutritional supplements only to improve nutritional status when needed, not with expectation of cognitive benefit. 6
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Don't be misled by mechanistic rationale: While creatine's role in cellular bioenergetics is well-established and brain energy metabolism is impaired in AD, this pathophysiologic reasoning has not translated to clinical benefit in human trials. 1, 3
Don't extrapolate from other conditions: Creatine may have benefits in other neurodegenerative diseases, but the evidence specifically for Alzheimer's disease is insufficient. 5
Don't waste resources on unproven interventions: Focusing on supplements like creatine diverts attention from evidence-based interventions that actually improve outcomes, such as maintaining adequate caloric intake and preventing malnutrition. 6
When Supplementation Might Be Appropriate
If a specific nutrient deficiency is documented through laboratory testing, supplementation with normal physiologic doses to correct that deficiency is reasonable—but this is to treat the deficiency itself, not to expect cognitive improvement. 7, 8
Any consideration of experimental supplements should only occur after careful discussion of burden and benefits with a specialized physician, acknowledging the lack of evidence. 1