The Surprising Cognitive Benefits of Creatine for Stroke Recovery

Like most men in their 20s who hit the gym regularly, I started supplementing with creatine years before I had a stroke.

However, when I returned home from the inpatient rehab center about three weeks after my stroke, the kitchen cabinet full of my workout supplements, including creatine, went untouched.

For weeks, I didn’t feel the need to use anything outside of a protein shake here or there.

“What’s the point?” I thought. I wasn’t any closer to getting back in the gym considering I struggled to walk up the stairs most days.

Looking back, that may have been a mistake.

Research suggests creatine can do more than just boost physical performance. It may also help to reduce mental fatigue, improve memory, and enhance other cognitive functions.

When it comes to recovery after stroke, one small study found that stroke survivors who supplemented with creatine experienced a significant increase in 6-minute walk performance over time.

What is Creatine?

Creatine monohydrate is a popular supplement used to build muscle.

It adds to your body’s naturally-produced levels of creatine, which is an amino acid located in your muscles and brain.

Creatine comes in powder form and mixes with your drink of choice.

Creatine – “A Fuel Source for Neurons”

A few weeks after returning home from rehab, I was emptying the dishwasher and listening to an episode of the Huberman Lab podcast.

At one point, Andrew Huberman said something along the lines of “Creatine is a fuel source for neurons in the brain.”

I froze, paused the podcast, and listened to it again to make sure I heard it correctly.

“You have got to be kidding me,” I thought to myself.

Lord knows how many neurons I lost during the bloodbath that was my hemorrhagic stroke, but now I had stopped using creatine, something I had used daily for the past decade.

After that podcast, I started looking for more details on the potential cognitive benefits associated with creatine and the results were surprising.

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How Creatine May Support Brain Function

What I had previously known to be a supplement to enhance physical performance in the gym carried with it some impressive claims for supporting brain health.

Specifically, research on creatine suggests:

• Creatine is an essential compound for the brain providing energy and neuroprotection.
• Creatine supplementation may reduce the severity of, or improve recovery from mild traumatic brain injury.
• “Early clinical trials indicate that creatine may be effective as an antidepressant.
• In animal models, creatine increased Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein often cited for its role in helping stroke survivors recover movement.

Additionally, in this episode of The Ready State Podcast, Dr. Darren Candow, a leading creatine researcher, discussed the latest findings regarding the benefits of creatine for brain health and dispels some common myths associated with creatine use.

“I’m not seeing any data to suggest it’s not favorable to be on creatine from a brain health perspective,” Candow said on the show.

“I’m not seeing any data to suggest it’s not favorable to be on creatine from a brain health perspective.”

Dr. Darren candow

Creatine for Stroke Recovery

It’s impossible to quantify how creatine supplementation may have supported my recovery after stroke.

Once I built back up to my pre-stroke levels of creatine, I felt moderately better.

It wasn’t a substantial difference, however, considering creatine works best over time. At this point I was also nearing the one-year mark of my recovery, so I was naturally getting better with time.

I’m grateful I was in the habit of using creatine pre-stroke since research indicates creatine supplementation may reduce the amount of brain tissue damage caused by stroke, but I do regret not using it earlier, in the immediate weeks after I returned home from rehab.

Creatine is by no means a miracle cure, but the numerous studies indicating improved cognitive function from creatine supplementation are eye-opening.

Combined with the many studies showing how creatine can improve physical performance, creatine appears to be a simple supplement that almost anyone can benefit from.

Creatine is by no means a miracle cure, but the numerous studies indicating improved cognitive function from creatine supplementation are eye-opening.

However, it’s important to note that any supplement for stroke recovery won’t overcome a poor diet or inconsistent sleep and exercise.

Consistent sleep, exercise, and proper nutrition are essential for stroke survivors.

Basic Tips on How to Take Creatine

Creatine monohydrate is the form of creatine you’ll want to use because it’s the most often studied, including the stroke survivor study mentioned above.

Personally, I use Nutricost’s creatine monohydrate and have for years.

Five grams a day is often cited as a standard dose of creatine. However, supplementation levels are based on your body weight and determining an appropriate dose level is a conversation to have with your doctor if you’re interested in starting to use creatine.

Proper hydration is also critical in using creatine and it’s advised to avoid mixing creatine with caffeine as it can cause digestion issues.

The timing of creatine intake is irrelevant. You can take it morning, afternoon, or evening, whichever is most convenient for you.

*The information provided on supplements on this page and others on this site is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Consult your physician before starting any new supplement regimen.