Creatine Monohydrate for Cognitive Function
Compound stored in skeletal muscle as phosphocreatine, buffering ATP regeneration during short, high-intensity effort; one of the most extensively studied performance-enhancing supplements for strength and lean mass.
Creatine Monohydrate for Cognitive Function
3 of 8 results reported a benefit, from 3 published studies.
3 studies, including a review of trials · the chart counts everything measured
- 3 reported a benefit
- 4 no clear benefit
- 1 unclear
Colour keyReported a benefitNo clear benefitUnclearPossible harmAmber is for highlights, such as where the most research is. It never means a result was good.
- Memory performanceSlight effectslightly better than the comparison group1 review of trials2 of 3 results reported a benefit2023 study ↗
- Working memoryNo clear benefit found2 randomised trials · no comparable figure reported0 of 2 results reported a benefit2023 study ↗
- Mixed thinking and memory tasksReported a benefitmeasurement not reportedCreatine supplementation improved most cognitive task scores in elderly participants compared with placebo (n=15).1 randomised trial2007 study ↗
- Other thinking tasksNo clear benefit foundmeasurement not reportedCreatine showed no indication of improved performance on exploratory tasks vs placebo in 123 people over 6 weeks.1 randomised trial2023 study ↗
- Reasoning abilityNo clear benefit foundsee exact figuresCreatine showed no significant benefit on RAPM vs placebo in 123 people over 6 weeks.1 randomised trial2023 study ↗
Side effects: measured in 1 result. 1 result reported more side effects than the comparison group.
These are the figures the studies reported, not a prediction for any one person. Where several studies measured the same thing in the same unit, we show a simple average and say so. Every result is listed below.
See every resultThe connection
Memory, mental clarity and overall brain health.
Also known as: Creatine
Creatine Monohydrate × Cognitive Function: at a glance
Every published result for this pair, extracted and audited.
These charts count reported findings from published studies, grouped by reported benefit and study design. Study design is not a certainty grade.
Creatine Monohydrate / Cognitive Function: reported findings; one study may contribute several findings.
What the evidence shows
What this means: Counts describe research quantity, not treatment effectiveness or certainty.
| Category | Findings (count) |
|---|---|
| Benefit | 3 |
| No benefit | 4 |
| Unclear | 1 |
| Harm / risk | 1 |
Study designs behind these findings
What this means: Counts describe research quantity, not treatment effectiveness or certainty.
| Category | Findings (count) |
|---|---|
| Meta-analysis | 3 |
| Randomised trial | 6 |
- Studies
- 3
| Study | Outcome | Reported result | Uncertainty (as reported) | Study duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Effects of creatine supplementation on memory in healthy individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. (PMID 35984306) | memory performance (older adults) | 0.88 SMD | 95%CI, 0.22-1.55; P=0.009 | 5 days to 24 weeks |
| Effects of creatine supplementation on memory in healthy individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. (PMID 35984306) | memory performance (overall) | 0.29 SMD | 95%CI, 0.04-0.53; P=0.02 | 5 days to 24 weeks |
| Effects of creatine supplementation on memory in healthy individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. (PMID 35984306) | memory performance (younger counterparts) | Not reported | 95%CI, -0.14 to 0.20; P=0.72 | 5 days to 24 weeks |
| The effects of creatine supplementation on cognitive performance-a randomised controlled study. (PMID 37968687) | Backward Digit Span (BDS) | 0.029 η²P | p=0.064 | 6 weeks |
| The effects of creatine supplementation on cognitive performance-a randomised controlled study. (PMID 37968687) | Exploratory cognitive tasks | Not reported | Not reported | 6 weeks |
| The effects of creatine supplementation on cognitive performance-a randomised controlled study. (PMID 37968687) | Raven's Advanced Progressive Matrices (RAPM) | 0.008 η²P | p=0.327 | 6 weeks |
| The effects of creatine supplementation on cognitive performance-a randomised controlled study. (PMID 37968687) | Side effects | 4.25 RR | p=0.002 | 6 weeks |
| Creatine supplementation and cognitive performance in elderly individuals. (PMID 17828627) | backward number recall | Not reported | Not reported | 1 week |
| Creatine supplementation and cognitive performance in elderly individuals. (PMID 17828627) | cognitive performance (random number generation, forward number/spatial recall, long-term memory tasks) | Not reported | Not reported | 1 week |
Study results, as reported by the publications
Every measured outcome, one row per finding - numbers exactly as reported. Units are preserved where supplied; missing units are not inferred.
| Study and type | Reported sample and duration | Outcome measured | Reported result | What studies found |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PMID 35984306 2023 Meta-analysis | Sample (as reported): Not reportedDuration: 5 days to 24 weeks | memory performance (older adults) | 0.88 SMD (95%CI, 0.22-1.55; P=0.009) | Benefit |
| PMID 35984306 2023 Meta-analysis | Sample (as reported): Not reportedDuration: 5 days to 24 weeks | memory performance (overall) | 0.29 SMD (95%CI, 0.04-0.53; P=0.02) | Benefit |
| PMID 35984306 2023 Meta-analysis | Sample (as reported): Not reportedDuration: 5 days to 24 weeks | memory performance (younger counterparts) | Not reported (95%CI, -0.14 to 0.20; P=0.72) | No benefit |
| PMID 37968687 2023 Randomised trial | Sample (as reported): 123Duration: 6 weeks | Backward Digit Span (BDS) | 0.029 η²P (p=0.064) | Unclear |
| PMID 37968687 2023 Randomised trial | Sample (as reported): 123Duration: 6 weeks | Exploratory cognitive tasks | Not reported | No benefit |
| PMID 37968687 2023 Randomised trial | Sample (as reported): 123Duration: 6 weeks | Raven's Advanced Progressive Matrices (RAPM) | 0.008 η²P (p=0.327) | No benefit |
| PMID 37968687 2023 Randomised trial | Sample (as reported): 123Duration: 6 weeks | Side effects | 4.25 RR (p=0.002) | Harm / risk |
| PMID 17828627 2007 Randomised trial | Sample (as reported): 15Duration: 1 week | backward number recall | Not reported | No benefit |
| PMID 17828627 2007 Randomised trial | Sample (as reported): 15Duration: 1 week | cognitive performance (random number generation, forward number/spatial recall, long-term memory tasks) | Not reported | Benefit |
Creatine Monohydrate × Cognitive Function: the evidence base
Hand-selected PubMed studies, linked to the originals.
Ordered by strength of evidence, then result direction.
01Ginkgo biloba for cognitive impairment and dementiaWieland LS, et al. · The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2026PMID 41641880 ↗02Effects of acute exercise on cognitive function: A meta-review of 30 systematic reviews with meta-analysesChang YK, et al. · Psychological bulletin · 2025PMID 39883421 ↗03Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761 is safe and effective in the treatment of mild dementia - a meta-analysis of patient subgroups in randomised controlled trialsRiepe M, et al. · The world journal of biological psychiatry : the official journal of the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry · 2025PMID 39895346 ↗04Associations between Diet and Cognitive Function in Stroke Survivors: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysisAmanat S, et al. · Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.) · 2025PMID 40355028 ↗05Creatine Supplementation in Combat Sport Athletes: A Narrative Systematic ReviewAshtary-Larky D, et al. · Journal of dietary supplements · 2025PMID 40755023 ↗06A systematic review and dose response meta analysis of Omega 3 supplementation on cognitive functionShahinfar H, et al. · Scientific reports · 2025PMID 40836005 ↗Community experiences
Contributors volunteered; this does not establish treatment effectiveness or population incidence.
Reported changes
No publishable community breakdown is available. This does not establish that no reports exist.