CREATINE FUNCTION IN THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM: IMPACT ON COGNITIVE PERFORMANCE AND MENTAL HEALTH – A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31435/ijitss.3(51).2026.6685Keywords:
Creatine Monohydrate, Brain Bioenergetics, Cognitive Performance, Major Depressive Disorder, Neuroprotection, Sleep DeprivationAbstract
Creatine monohydrate is a nitrogenous organic acid historically recognized for its ergogenic role in skeletal muscle energy metabolism (Allen, 2012). However, recent literature emphasizes its critical function within the central nervous system (CNS), where the brain, representing only 2% of total body mass, consumes approximately 20% of resting energy (Forbes et al., 2022; Gualano et al., 2016). The creatine kinase (CK)/phosphocreatine (PCr) system serves as a primary temporal and spatial energy buffer, facilitating the rapid regeneration of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) during periods of high metabolic demand (Allen, 2012; Dolan et al., 2018; Merege-Filho et al., 2017). This comprehensive review synthesizes evidence from 32 provided scientific sources to evaluate the impact of creatine supplementation on cognitive performance and mental health. While effects in healthy, well-rested individuals are often subtle or inconsistent, creatine demonstrates significant efficacy in restoring cognitive function during states of metabolic stress, including sleep deprivation, hypoxia, and aging (Allen, 2012; Dolan et al., 2018; Prokopidis et al., 2022). Furthermore, clinical data suggest that creatine acts as a potent adjunctive therapy for major depressive disorder (MDD) by addressing underlying bioenergetic deficits (Juneja et al., 2024; Sherpa et al., 2025). Emerging research also highlights creatine’s neuroprotective potential in recovery from traumatic brain injury (TBI) and its influence on hippocampal structural plasticity (Dolan et al., 2018; Gerbatin et al., 2019; Zhu et al., 2025). This review addresses metabolism, cognitive domains, psychiatric implications, and underlying mechanisms, establishing creatine as a multifaceted modulator of brain health.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Dawid Przybylski, Patrycja Pudzisz, Stanisław Brożyna , Karolina Szamocka, Aleksandra Koszałka, Wojciech Bogacki, Karolina Bińkowska-Chęć , Katarzyna Frączek
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