Creatine May Boost Muscle Strength in Alzheimer’s Patients

Creatine, Creatine monohydrate, Alzheimer’s disease, muscle strength, neurodegenerative diseases, AD treatment research, handgrip strength, dementia care, skeletal muscle health, neuromuscular junction, clinical trial, muscle preservation, creatine supplementation, Frontiers in Nutrition study, geriatric health, neuro-muscular health

Creatine Supplementation Shows Promise in Alzheimer’s Care

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is widely recognized for its cognitive decline, but it also has profound physical effects, including muscle loss and decreased strength. A new pilot study published in Frontiers in Nutrition suggests that creatine monohydrate (CrM) supplementation may help preserve muscle strength and size in AD patients, offering a potential low-cost strategy to address these challenges.

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Researchers at the University of Kansas explored the effects of daily CrM supplementation on 20 participants diagnosed with probable AD-dementia. Over eight weeks, participants consumed 20 grams of CrM per day, split into two doses. The study measured handgrip strength, lower-body strength, muscle size, and neuromuscular junction (NMJ) integrity to determine the impact of creatine on physical health.

Study Findings: Muscle Strength and Size Improvement

The study revealed a 6% increase in handgrip strength, rising from an average of 33.5 kg to 35.5 kg. This improvement is clinically significant, as grip strength strongly correlates with independence and quality of life in older adults. Additionally, there was a localized increase in the muscle cross-sectional area (mCSA), particularly in the rectus femoris and vastus medialis.

Other findings included:

Reduction in subcutaneous fat in the rectus femoris and vastus lateralis.
No significant changes in muscle thickness, body mass index (BMI), or lean body mass percentage.
NMJ integrity, assessed through plasma CAF levels, remained stable.

The participants demonstrated excellent compliance, with 95% achieving over 80% adherence. Importantly, no withdrawal effects were reported, and the supplement was well tolerated.

While improvements were modest, these results suggest that creatine could help offset muscle loss associated with Alzheimer’s, potentially delaying physical decline.

Limitations and the Need for Larger Trials

Despite encouraging results, researchers caution that the study had limitations. The small sample size, lack of a control group, and short duration limit the strength of conclusions. Additionally, mid-study equipment issues affected standardized testing procedures.

Further research involving larger, more diverse populations is essential to confirm these findings and explore the role of creatine in preserving muscle function and improving the quality of life in AD patients.

Conclusion

Creatine monohydrate supplementation appears to offer a safe, well-tolerated, and cost-effective method to improve muscle strength in Alzheimer’s patients. While preliminary, these findings highlight a promising avenue for future interventions aimed at addressing physical decline in neurodegenerative diseases.

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