REVIEW article
Front. Nutr.
Sec. Nutrition and Metabolism
Creatine supplementation and exercise in aging: A narrative review of the muscle–brain axis and its impact on cognitive and physical health
Provisionally accepted
- Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, China
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Background/Aim: Aging is associated with progressive declines in neuromuscular and cognitive functions, which negatively impact independence and quality of life. The muscle–brain axis has emerged as a key pathway linking skeletal muscle health to cognitive performance. This review aimed to evaluate the effects of creatine supplementation combined with exercise on physical and cognitive outcomes in older adults. Methods: A narrative review was conducted summarizing evidence from clinical and preclinical studies, including randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses, on creatine supplementation and exercise interventions targeting aging populations. Results: Creatine supplementation, particularly when combined with resistance training, significantly improves muscle strength, lean body mass, and functional capacity in older adults. Cognitive outcomes show modest improvements in memory, processing speed, and executive function, especially in individuals with lower baseline creatine levels. Mechanistically, creatine supports energy metabolism, mitochondrial stability, and antioxidant defenses, while exercise promotes neuroplasticity through myokines, collectively reinforcing the muscle–brain axis. Conclusion: The combination of creatine supplementation and structured exercise appears to be a safe and promising strategy to counteract age-related declines in both physical and cognitive functions. However, further large-scale studies are required to establish long-term benefits and optimize dosing protocols.
Keywords: Creatine, Exercise, Cognitive Function, Aging, Neuroprotection
Received: 18 Aug 2025; Accepted: 30 Nov 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Li. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Nana Li
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.