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The Healf Source
Creatine’s Unexpected Link To Better Mood And Focus
Creatine isn’t just for muscles. It fuels the brain by recycling ATP, the body’s key energy source. This bioenergetic boost may help restore mental clarity when depression clouds our focus.
Written by: Pippa Thackeray
Written on: June 9, 2025
References
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2. Brewer GJ, Wallimann TW. Protective effect of the energy precursor creatine against toxicity of glutamate and β-amyloid in rat hippocampal neurons. J Neurochem. 2000;74(5):1968-1978. doi:10.1046/j.1471-4159.2000.0741968.x. Available from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1046/j.1471-4159.2000.0741968.x?sid=nlm%3Apubmed
3. Prokopidis K, Giannos P, Triantafyllidis KK, Kechagias KS, Forbes SC, Candow DG. Effects of creatine supplementation on memory in healthy individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Nutr Rev. 2023;81(4):416-427. doi:10.1093/nutrit/nuz064. Available from: https://academic.oup.com/nutritionreviews/article/81/4/416/6671817
4. Sandkühler JF, Kersting X, Faust A, et al. The effects of creatine supplementation on cognitive performance—a randomised controlled study. BMC Med. 2023;21(1):440. doi:10.1186/s12916-023-03146-5. Available from: https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-023-03146-5
5. Beal MF. Neuroprotective effects of creatine. Amino Acids. 2011;40(5):1305-1313. doi:10.1007/s00726-011-0851-0. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21448659/
6. Van Cutsem J, Roelands B, Pluym B, et al. Can creatine combat the mental fatigue–associated decrease in visuomotor skills? Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2020;52(1):120-130. doi:10.1249/MSS.0000000000002122. Available from: https://journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/fulltext/2020/01000/can_creatine_combat_the_mental_fatigue_associated.14.aspx
7. Candow DG, Forbes SC, Ostojic SM, et al. “Heads Up” for creatine supplementation and its potential applications for brain health and function. Sports Med. 2023;53(Suppl 1):49-65. doi:10.1007/s40279-023-01870-9. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10721691/
8. Kious BM, Kondo DG, Renshaw PF. Creatine for the treatment of depression. Biomolecules. 2019;9(9):406. doi:10.3390/biom9090406. Available from: https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/9/9/406
This article is for informational purposes only, even if and regardless of whether it features the advice of physicians and medical practitioners. This article is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and should never be relied upon for specific medical advice. The views expressed in this article are the views of the expert and do not necessarily represent the views of Healf
Pippa is a content writer and qualified Nutritional Therapist (DipNT) creating research-based content with a passion for many areas of wellbeing, including hormonal health, mental health and digestive health.
As a contributor to The Healf Source, she regularly attends seminars and programmes on a plethora of contemporary health issues and modern research insights with a drive to never stop learning. In addition, interviewing experts and specialists across The Four Pillars: EAT, MOVE, MIND, SLEEP.
In her spare time, she is an avid swimmer, mindfulness and yoga lover, occasionally bringing a raw, honest approach to the topics she faces. You may also discover some personal accounts of eye-opening wellbeing experiences amidst the reality of a disorientating, and often conflicting, modern wellbeing space.
