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Creatine for Cognitive Function

Verdict: Weak, disputed: small memory signal only

Creatine shows a small, inconsistent benefit for memory that is concentrated in older or physiologically stressed people; in healthy young adults the best controlled trial found no effect, and EU regulators have rejected cognitive claims. It is not an established cognitive enhancer.

C 🟠 C Weak Evidence Disputed

🔬Why this grade7-layer evidence engine

The grade is Weak/Disputed because the meta-analytic signal is small and the literature openly conflicts. Two pooled analyses found a modest memory benefit (Xu 2024, PMID 39070254: SMD 0.31 across 16 RCTs, n=492; Sandkuhler 2023, PMID 35984306: SMD 0.29, n=8 RCTs), but Xu reported no effect on overall cognition or executive function, and Sandkuhler's benefit was driven by adults aged 66-76.

The effect appears population-dependent rather than general. A systematic review (McMorris 2024, PMID 38582412) found results equivocal despite confirmed brain creatine uptake, with benefits emerging mainly in stressed states (sleep deprivation, hypoxia, mental fatigue). In healthy young adults, a double-blind dose-response RCT (PMID 37759877, 10-20 g for 6 weeks) found no cognitive effect, and that trial carried industry funding. An older-adult review (PMID 40971619, n=1542) was mostly positive but of mixed methodological quality.

Authorities reinforce caution rather than endorsement. EFSA approved only a muscle-strength claim and rejected creatine cognitive claims (2024) and attention/memory claims (2011); FDA treats creatine as a food ingredient (GRAS), not a cognition aid. Mayo Clinic says it 'might improve memory,' Cleveland Clinic limits this to people 60 and older, and the Alzheimer's Association states no supplement has been proven to benefit cognition.

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Scoring transparency

All scores computed by a 7-layer evidence engine — fully auditable
Raw score 0.47
D
C
B
A
S
← counter-evidence / ineffectiveeffective / strong evidence →
Final grade
C · Disputed
Confidence
71%
Broadly consistent
Evidence level
E2
Multiple high-quality MAs (≥2 independent, consistent)

How strongly each layer supports this effect

lower = less supportive
L2 PubMedPrimary literature
0.45
L3 MechanismPlausibility
0.45
L5 Clinical bodiesAuthoritative stance
0.47
L1 ExamineGlobal benchmark
0.50
L11 AI re-checkIndependent read
0.50
Against Mixed Supports
▸View the full decision path (audit trail)
  1. compute_raw_score — 加權公式: L2×0.30 + L3×0.25 + L5×0.25 + L11×0.10 + L1×0.10 = 0.466
  2. tier_from_score — 依分數區間映射至 tier letter
  3. apply_hec_rules — 高品質 SR/MA 顯示 positive (1 篇 > 0 negative)
  4. tier_strict_requirement_check — Tier 條件達標，未降階
  5. detect_disputes — 偵測到 1 個 hard + 0 個 soft dispute
  6. decide_status — 依 tier + dispute 結果決定 status

📄PubMed studies (5)L2 · primary research & systematic reviews

The effects of creatine supplementation on cognitive function in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis
PMID: 39070254 2024 統合分析 n = 492
Finding: Significant improvement in memory (SMD=0.31, 95% CI 0.18-0.44), attention time (SMD=-0.31, 95% CI -0.58 to -0.03), processing speed (SMD=-0.51, 95% CI -1.01 to -0.01); no significant effect on overall cognition or executive function
Effect size: [object Object]
View on PubMed
Creatine supplementation research fails to support the theoretical basis for an effect on cognition: Evidence from a systematic review
PMID: 38582412 2024 系統性回顧
Finding: Equivocal results for cognition despite confirmed brain creatine uptake; benefits primarily emerge in stressed populations (sleep deprivation, hypoxia, mental fatigue), not in healthy unstressed adults (narrative synthesis, no pooled p-value)
View on PubMed
Effects of creatine supplementation on memory in healthy individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
PMID: 35984306 2023 統合分析 n = 8
Finding: Creatine improved memory vs placebo (SMD=0.29, 95% CI 0.04-0.53, p=0.02); effect significantly larger in older adults 66-76 y vs younger 11-31 y (p=0.009 between-group)
Effect size: [object Object]
View on PubMed
Creatine and Cognition in Aging: A Systematic Review of Evidence in Older Adults
PMID: 40971619 2026 系統性回顧 n = 1,542
Finding: 5/6 (83.3%) studies reported a positive relationship between creatine and cognition in older adults, particularly memory and attention; methodological quality mixed (1 good, 2 fair, 3 poor); no pooled p-value
🟠 Limited quality Academic
View on PubMed
Dose-Response of Creatine Supplementation on Cognitive Function in Healthy Young Adults
PMID: 37759877 2023 RCT (double-blind) n = 30
Finding: Creatine (independent of dose) had no significant effect on cognitive performance; trend toward decreased prefrontal activation in CR10 vs placebo (p=0.06)
🟠 Limited quality ⚠️ Industry-funded
View on PubMed

🏛️Regulatory & authoritative positionsL4/L5 · FDA / EMA / NIH ODS / Cochrane / Mayo …

L4a US FDA
Supportive
FDA has no questions source↗
L4b EU EFSA
Supportive
cause and effect relationship has been established source↗
L4c UK NHS
Not addressed
Supplements containing creatine are widely used by athletes to improve performance source↗
L5a NIH Office of Dietary Supplements
Supportive
May increase strength, power source↗
L5b Mayo Clinic
Cautious
might improve memory and thinking skills source↗
L5c Cleveland Clinic
Neutral
may help brain function in people 60 and older source↗
L5e Specialty Society (condition-mapped)
Not addressed
Not a single...supplement has been proven to...benefit cognitive function source↗
✓PMID 100% verifiedevery citation checked via NCBI Entrez
🔬5 PubMed studiesindependently re-checked by multiple sub-agents
engine_version: v1.0 claim_id: CLM-COND-cognitive-function-INT-creatine-001 繁體中文版 →