Creatine Supplementation and Cognitive Performance in Elderly Individuals

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Cognitive Performance, Memory, Elderly and Creatine

Terry Mc, Ph.D.

Centre for Sports Science and Medicine

University of Chichester, College Lane

Chichester, West Sussex PO19 6PE, UK

44 1243 816345 / 44 1243 816080 (FAX)

t.mcmorris@...

http://www.vitasearch.com/CP/experts/TMcAT11-15-07.pdf

" Creatine Supplementation and Cognitive Performance in Elderly Individuals, "

Neuropsychol Dev Cogn B Aging Neuropsychol Cogn, 2007; 14(5): 517-28.

45660 (1/2008)

Kirk Hamilton: Can you please share with us your educational background

and current position?

Terry Mc: I originally trained as a teacher before obtaining a

Master of Physical Education degree

from the University of New Brunswick, Canada. I obtained a PhD from

University of Southampton in 1997. I

am now Professor of Motor Behaviour in the School of Sport, Exercise and

Health Sciences, University of

Chichester.

KH: What got you interested in studying the role of creatine in

cognitive performance in elderly subjects?

TMM:We had carried out previous research into the effect of creatine

supplementation on cognition and

psychomotor performance in sleep deprived individuals. Our findings

suggested that creatine supplementation

was beneficial. Furthermore, in collaboration with Professor Mielcarz at

the Poznan Medical University, we had

found that creatine supplementation was beneficial for physical

performance in the elderly. This led our sponsor

in these studies, Alan of the Foundation of Cambridge, to

commission us to examine the

possibility of a positive effect of creatine supplementation on

cognition in the elderly.

KH: What is the biochemistry of creatine that might help enhance

cognitive performance?

TMM:The energy for cognitive performance depends on the hydrolysis of

adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to

adenosine diphosphate an inorganic phosphate. The resynthesis of ATP by

creatine kinase is dependent upon

phosphorylcreatine and the process results in the degradation of

phosphorylcreatine, which requires the

presence of creatine for replenishment. Deficiency in creatine is a

major limitation in this process. However,

magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies have shown that creatine

monohydrate supplementation results in

significant increases in creatine concentrations in the human brain.

There is no doubt that elderly people require more energy, in order to

carry out cognitive tasks, than do

younger individuals. However, magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies

have tended to show that creatine

levels in the brain actually increase with age in healthy individuals.

It does not appear that the increase in brain

creatine is sufficient to make up for general brain deterioration.

Nevertheless, one cannot rule out the possibility

that energy supply is not the major issue with regard to the

facilitating effect of creatine supplementation in the

elderly. An alternative explanation is that the positive effects of

creatine supplementation are due to the fact that

the presence of creatine improves mitochondrial membrane stimulation,

intracellular handling, antioxidant

mechanisms, and glutamate reuptake in synaptic vesicles, with a

resultant neuroprotective effect on several

chemicals in the brain, particularly dopamine and glutamate. This would

aid cognition because dopamine is a

neurotransmitter that plays a major role in working memory tasks, while

glutamate is an excitatory

neurotransmitter that at high levels can disrupt cognitive performance

due to excitoxicity of neurons.

KH: Is there any way to assess for creatine need in these subjects? If

so what testing did you use?

TMM:There are but we didn’t try to because the cost was prohibitive.

KH: Where did you come up with a dose of 20 g/day of creatine? Was it

given in a single dose or divided

dose? With meals or away from meals?

TMM:They took 5 g of creatine monohydrate or placebo, as appropriate,

four times a day. They were told to

spread the timing of doses out throughout the day. Times were not linked

to meals. This regimen is in line with

that of the previous research examining creatine and physical

performance in the elderly.

KH: Can you tell us about your study and the basic results?

TMM:There was a positive effect of creatine supplementation on verbal

and visual short term memory and

long term memory but not on working memory.

KH: Were there any side effects with the creatine therapy? How was the

patient compliance?

TMM:There were no side effects. Compliance by those that completed the

test was excellent but several

dropped out for a variety of reasons.

KH: Who is a candidate for creatine therapy? How do you assess for these

subjects or do you give creatine

to any elderly subject who is interested in improving cognitive function?

TMM:We used participants simply due to age but other research has shown

positive effects for those suffering

from Parkinson’s and Huntington’s.

KH: Since creatine helps form ATP might not other agents such as

carnitine, CoQ10, alpha-lipoic acid and

ribose by synergistic with creatine?

TMM:Each of these has a role to play in metabolism and directly or

indirectly may produce ATP although over

a different time frame to that involving phosphorylcreatine. There is no

justification as far as we can see to

combine these with creatine as a supplement.

KH: Do you have anything more to on this very interesting topic?

TMM:More research is required in this area.

--

ne Holden, MS, RD < fivestar@... >

" Ask the Parkinson Dietitian " http://www.parkinson.org/

" Eat well, stay well with Parkinson's disease "

" Parkinson's disease: Guidelines for Medical Nutrition Therapy "

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