Not all creatine research focuses strictly on strength or exercise. A highly cited 2018 review in Psychopharmacology investigated the cognitive effects of oral creatine supplementation in healthy volunteers. Across the studies included, the authors reported that creatine intake was linked with improvements in short-term memory and intelligence/reasoning tasks, especially in situations where metabolic demands on the brain were high, such as during fatigue or stress.
Importantly, this kind of research shows that creatine’s role goes beyond “muscle fuel.” Because creatine functions as a rapid energy buffer for cells, it helps tissues that rely on quick ATP turnover - whether that’s in a sprint or solving problems after a long day. The review also noted that benefits might be more pronounced in groups with lower baseline creatine levels, such as vegetarians or older adults.
From a practical perspective, daily creatine intake that is habitual (not hit-or-miss) is more likely to sustain these subtle cognitive effects over time. That’s exactly what The Strong Stuff is designed to support: integrating creatine into your existing food habits so you can consistently nourish both body and brain without adding complexity to your routine.
Avgerinos KI, Spyrou N, Bougioukas KI, Kapogiannis D. Effects of creatine supplementation on cognitive function of healthy individuals. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2018. PMID: 29704637.