Creatine 101: Benefits, Brain Health, Dosage & Safety in 2026
Updated October 8, 2026 · Evidence reviewed and expanded Creatine monohydrate is one of the most extensively studied dietary supplements for improving high-intensity exercise performance and supporting gains in lean mass when combined with resistance training. Increasing research is also examining creatine's role in brain energy metabolism, memory, cognition, aging and mental health . But the evidence is not equally strong for every proposed benefit. The strongest evidence remains around exercise performance and muscle-related outcomes. Brain and mental-health applications are promising but more heterogeneous, and the 2024 finding linking brain creatine levels with recovery from traumatic stress was an observational study in only 25 U.S. veterans—not a clinical trial showing that taking creatine treats PTSD. Bottom line: For most healthy adults interested in strength, training adaptation or maintaining muscle with aging, 3–5 g/day of creatine m...