Journal Article

DZNE-2026-00469

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Single-Dose Creatine Reduces Sleep Deprivation-Induced Deterioration in Cognitive Performance.

Gordji-Nejad, A. ; Matusch, A. ; Hengstler, L. ; Beer, S. ; Kroll, T. ; Klein, S. ; Elmenhorst, D. ; Bauer, A. ; Drzezga, A. (Last author)DZNE*

2026
MDPI Basel

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.3390/nu18081192

Abstract: Background/Objectives: Creatine is a supplement that, beyond its physiological effects, has been shown to have positive effects on cognitive abilities. In our previous study, we showed that a single dose of 0.35 g/kg creatine induces changes in brain metabolism during sleep deprivation and reduces deterioration in cognitive performance. The present study investigates whether supplementation of a lower dose is associated with cognitive effects during sleep deprivation, focusing exclusively on cognitive performance outcomes. Methods: Twenty-nine healthy subjects performed cognitive tests at the evening baseline and 3, 5.5, and 7.5 h after receiving a single dose of creatine monohydrate (0.2 g/kg) or a placebo during a total of 21 h of sleep deprivation (SD). Results: The results show a mitigating effect of creatine on sleep deprivation-induced deterioration in logical and numerical tasks, language-related processing speed, and the Psychomotor Vigilance Test (PVT). Compared to males, females benefit more in logic, PVT and processing speed in language and logic tasks. Conclusions: Our results show that a dose of 0.2 g/kg creatine is associated with a reduced deterioration in cognitive performance during sleep deprivation. Although the effect is less pronounced than with a high dose of 0.35 g/kg, there is still an improvement of up to 12%.

Keyword(s): Humans (MeSH) ; Sleep Deprivation: complications (MeSH) ; Sleep Deprivation: psychology (MeSH) ; Male (MeSH) ; Creatine: administration & dosage (MeSH) ; Creatine: pharmacology (MeSH) ; Female (MeSH) ; Cognition: drug effects (MeSH) ; Adult (MeSH) ; Young Adult (MeSH) ; Dietary Supplements (MeSH) ; Psychomotor Performance: drug effects (MeSH) ; Double-Blind Method (MeSH) ; cognitive performance ; creatine ; sleep deprivation ; Creatine

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Positron Emissions Tomography (PET) (AG Boecker)

Research Program(s):

1. 353 - Clinical and Health Care Research (POF4-353) (POF4-353)

Appears in the scientific report 2026

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Database coverage:
; ; ; BIOSIS Previews ; Biological Abstracts ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF >= 5 ; JCR ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

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