The Role of Creatine in Mitigating Neurodegenerative Diseases
Creatine is not only known for boosting physical performance but also plays an important role in brain health. It serves as a key energy source in the brain, especially in the hippocampus, which is responsible for memory and learning. Research has shown that people with neurodegenerative diseases, like dementia, often have lower creatine levels in their brains. In fact, studies on people who had Alzheimer's disease have found that their brain creatine levels were significantly reduced.
Scientists are now investigating whether measuring creatine levels in the brains of living people through MRI scans could help identify those at risk for dementia. This research hopes to discover if creatine supplements can slow the progression of neurodegenerative diseases.
Dr. Hunter Waldman has a personal connection to this research, which makes it especially meaningful. After genetic testing revealed that his wife, Erica, carries the APOE4 gene, an indicator that significantly raises the risk of developing Alzheimer's, the urgency to find preventive measures increased. Having just one APOE4 gene increases the risk of Alzheimer's by two to four times, and inheriting two APOE4 genes makes the outcomes less favorable.
Driven by this discovery, Dr. Waldman’s research into creatine's role in supporting brain health became a priority in his lab. Studies suggest that keeping creatine levels in the brain at healthy levels could help lower the risk of developing conditions like dementia. Since creatine plays a key role in how cells produce energy, it is important for keeping brain cells healthy and maintaining cognitive function.
Creatine supplementation might offer a new way to support brain health, especially for people who are at a higher genetic risk for neurodegenerative diseases. While more research is needed to confirm its effects, current findings show that creatine could be a useful tool in the fight against diseases like Alzheimer's. Creatine's benefits go far beyond physical performance; it's becoming clear that it may also play a crucial role in protecting the brain.
JOHN WELBOURN
John Welbourn is Founder/CEO of Power Athlete Inc and former NFL player. John was drafted with the 97th pick in 1999 NFL Draft and went on to be a starter for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1999-2003, appearing in 3 NFC Championship games, and started for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2004-2007. In 2008, he played with the New England Patriots until an injury ended his season early with him retiring in 2009. Over the course of his NFL career, John started over 100 games regular season games with 10 play-off appearances. He was a four-year letterman while playing football at the University of California at Berkeley. He graduated from the college of letters and sciences with a bachelor's degree in Rhetoric in 1998. And did his Masters work at the UC Berkeley School of Education in 1999. Since retiring from the NFL, John has worked extensively with the NFL, NHL, MLB, Olympic athletes, the US Army and Naval Special Warfare. He works as a consultant and advisor for several companies focused on improving human performance through training, nutrition and fitness-based technologies. John provides daily coaching and mentorship to over 5000 athletes around the world through his Power Athlete Coaches Network and training program delivery platform. Since in 2013, John has hosted a weekly podcast, Power Athlete Radio; a podcast dedicated to improving performance and connecting with some of the smartest people on the planet. With more than 700 episodes Power Athlete Radio has proven to be on the top podcasts in the strength and conditioning realm. John travels the world lecturing on performance and nutrition for Power Athlete and as a keynote speaker. John is a married father of three and resides in Austin, Texas. You can catch up with him at his personal blog, “Talk To Me Johnnie”, at Power Athlete or on social media @johnwelbourn.