// Preface //
Major breakthrough! The latest research has found that this common, cheap supplement can significantly improve brain function! It's becoming a lifesaver for a large number of dementia patients.

This common, cheap supplement can significantly improve dementia!

In Australia, with an aging population, dementia has become a major public health challenge and the leading cause of death for Australians. Hundreds of thousands of Australians are affected by it!

However, recent groundbreaking research from the University of Kansas in the US may offer a revolutionary solution to this difficult problem – the common supplement creatine might help combat dementia and significantly improve brain function!

Research found that any form of creatine supplement can enhance memory and may reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease.

Creatine is an organic compound made of amino acids, naturally present in human muscles and the brain, synthesized by the liver, pancreas, and kidneys. It is crucial for maintaining brain functions such as memory, attention, energy production, and information processing speed.

Previous studies have confirmed that low brain creatine levels are associated with cognitive decline. While low creatine doesn't directly cause dementia, it reduces energy supply, thereby accelerating memory loss.

In this new study, 19 Alzheimer's patients took 20 grams of creatine monohydrate (in powder form, mixable into drinks) daily for eight consecutive weeks.

The results showed that patients' brain creatine levels increased by an average of 11%, and their scores on cognitive and memory tests also showed slight improvement.

Dr. Matthew Taylor, the study's lead author and an assistant professor at the University of Kansas School of Health Professions, stated: "In studies with other populations, high-dose creatine does change brain creatine levels, but observing this change in Alzheimer's patients is exciting. An 11% increase is significant."

The research team noted that the body's naturally synthesized creatine is prioritized for muscles, with the remainder going to the brain. Therefore, the trial used a high dose of 20 grams daily (compared to the typical 5 grams recommended for muscle building) to ensure sufficient supply reached the brain.

Participants underwent blood tests, MRI scans, and cognitive assessments before starting creatine supplementation, at four weeks, and at eight weeks.

In addition to increased creatine levels, their overall cognitive abilities – including attention, memory, language skills, and executive function – showed slight improvement. Logical thinking, problem-solving ability, and reading fluency also progressed.

The research team believes that creatine deficiency leads to abnormal brain energy metabolism, which in turn damages attention, memory, and mood regulation, accelerating disease progression.

Therefore, the 11% increase in creatine levels provides a new avenue for potentially slowing disease progression.

However, the exact relationship between creatine and dementia requires further exploration. Dr. Taylor emphasized that more research is needed to clarify the specific mechanisms by which this supplement improves cognition.

This is not the first time creatine has been shown to benefit the brain. A 2018 study in Experimental Gerontology indicated that oral creatine supplementation could improve short-term memory, intelligence, and logical reasoning in healthy adults.

But creatine is also controversial, with concerns that it might cause water retention, bloating, gastrointestinal discomfort, hair loss, and risks of kidney damage.

Finally,
This research brings new hope for dementia patients and could become a potential auxiliary means to slow cognitive decline. However, its long-term safety still requires more research for validation. Patients should strictly follow medical advice and avoid self-administering supplements blindly.