450 Eight weeks of creatine monohydrate supplementation is feasible and associated with increased brain creatine in patients with AD

Objectives/Goals: The creatine (Cr) system is impaired in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Data show that creatine monohydrate (CrM) supplementation may improve AD symptoms in AD mouse models, but no human studies have been reported. Thus, we investigated whether an eight-week CrM supplementation was feasi...

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Main Authors: Aaron Smith, Matthew Taylor, Choi In-Young, Phil Lee, Emma Kelly, Tanu Aroa, Faith Waitsman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2025-04-01
Series:Journal of Clinical and Translational Science
Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2059866124010471/type/journal_article
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author Aaron Smith
Matthew Taylor
Choi In-Young
Phil Lee
Emma Kelly
Tanu Aroa
Faith Waitsman
author_facet Aaron Smith
Matthew Taylor
Choi In-Young
Phil Lee
Emma Kelly
Tanu Aroa
Faith Waitsman
author_sort Aaron Smith
collection DOAJ
description Objectives/Goals: The creatine (Cr) system is impaired in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Data show that creatine monohydrate (CrM) supplementation may improve AD symptoms in AD mouse models, but no human studies have been reported. Thus, we investigated whether an eight-week CrM supplementation was feasible and associated with increased brain creatine in patients with AD. Methods/Study Population: Twenty participants with probable AD were allocated to an open-label, eight-week intervention of 20 g/day CrM. Fasting blood draws were taken at baseline, 4-, and 8-week visits to measure serum creatine (Quest Diagnostics). 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy was performed at baseline and 8-week visits to measure brain Cr as a ratio to unsuppressed water. Self-reported compliance (with assistance from study partners) was assessed with daily CrM trackers. The mean compliance percentage across all participants was used to describe overall compliance with the intervention. We used paired t-tests to analyze the mean changes in serum Cr levels from baseline to 4- and 8-week visits and the mean change in brain Cr from baseline to 8-week visits. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Results/Anticipated Results: Participants were 65% male with a mean age of 73.1±6.3 years. All participants completed the study, with 19 out of 20 achieving the dose compliance target of ≥80%. The mean self-reported dose intake was 90%. Serum Cr levels were significantly increased at 4- and 8-week visits compared to baseline (0.6±0.4 mg/dL vs. 14.0±9.9 mg/dL and 15.0±13.6 mg/dL, respectively; p<0.001). Brain Cr levels also significantly increased (330.5±36.80 i.u. vs. 366.9±57.52 i.u., p<0.001). Discussion/Significance of Impact: We are the first to demonstrate that 20 g/day of CrM for eight weeks is feasible and associated with increased brain Cr in patients with AD. Our findings support further investigation of brain target engagement of CrM and its efficacy in AD. With AD cases expected to rise, CrM could serve as an effective, affordable therapeutic to slow AD progression.
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spelling doaj-art-c85f6cdf81394e60a8c3b2de3d09dd832025-08-20T02:40:52ZengCambridge University PressJournal of Clinical and Translational Science2059-86612025-04-01913313310.1017/cts.2024.1047450 Eight weeks of creatine monohydrate supplementation is feasible and associated with increased brain creatine in patients with ADAaron Smith0Matthew Taylor1Choi In-Young2Phil Lee3Emma Kelly4Tanu Aroa5Faith Waitsman6University of Kansas Medical CenterUniversity of Kansas Medical CenterUniversity of Kansas Medical CenterUniversity of Kansas Medical CenterUniversity of Kansas Medical CenterUniversity of Kansas Medical CenterUniversity of Kansas Medical CenterObjectives/Goals: The creatine (Cr) system is impaired in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Data show that creatine monohydrate (CrM) supplementation may improve AD symptoms in AD mouse models, but no human studies have been reported. Thus, we investigated whether an eight-week CrM supplementation was feasible and associated with increased brain creatine in patients with AD. Methods/Study Population: Twenty participants with probable AD were allocated to an open-label, eight-week intervention of 20 g/day CrM. Fasting blood draws were taken at baseline, 4-, and 8-week visits to measure serum creatine (Quest Diagnostics). 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy was performed at baseline and 8-week visits to measure brain Cr as a ratio to unsuppressed water. Self-reported compliance (with assistance from study partners) was assessed with daily CrM trackers. The mean compliance percentage across all participants was used to describe overall compliance with the intervention. We used paired t-tests to analyze the mean changes in serum Cr levels from baseline to 4- and 8-week visits and the mean change in brain Cr from baseline to 8-week visits. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Results/Anticipated Results: Participants were 65% male with a mean age of 73.1±6.3 years. All participants completed the study, with 19 out of 20 achieving the dose compliance target of ≥80%. The mean self-reported dose intake was 90%. Serum Cr levels were significantly increased at 4- and 8-week visits compared to baseline (0.6±0.4 mg/dL vs. 14.0±9.9 mg/dL and 15.0±13.6 mg/dL, respectively; p<0.001). Brain Cr levels also significantly increased (330.5±36.80 i.u. vs. 366.9±57.52 i.u., p<0.001). Discussion/Significance of Impact: We are the first to demonstrate that 20 g/day of CrM for eight weeks is feasible and associated with increased brain Cr in patients with AD. Our findings support further investigation of brain target engagement of CrM and its efficacy in AD. With AD cases expected to rise, CrM could serve as an effective, affordable therapeutic to slow AD progression.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2059866124010471/type/journal_article
spellingShingle Aaron Smith
Matthew Taylor
Choi In-Young
Phil Lee
Emma Kelly
Tanu Aroa
Faith Waitsman
450 Eight weeks of creatine monohydrate supplementation is feasible and associated with increased brain creatine in patients with AD
Journal of Clinical and Translational Science
title 450 Eight weeks of creatine monohydrate supplementation is feasible and associated with increased brain creatine in patients with AD
title_full 450 Eight weeks of creatine monohydrate supplementation is feasible and associated with increased brain creatine in patients with AD
title_fullStr 450 Eight weeks of creatine monohydrate supplementation is feasible and associated with increased brain creatine in patients with AD
title_full_unstemmed 450 Eight weeks of creatine monohydrate supplementation is feasible and associated with increased brain creatine in patients with AD
title_short 450 Eight weeks of creatine monohydrate supplementation is feasible and associated with increased brain creatine in patients with AD
title_sort 450 eight weeks of creatine monohydrate supplementation is feasible and associated with increased brain creatine in patients with ad
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2059866124010471/type/journal_article
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