How Creatine is Disrupting a 2 Billion Dollar Anxiety & Depression Market | Dr. Darren Candow

Summary

Dr. Darren Kando, a leading researcher, discusses the emerging link between creatine and mood disorders like depression and anxiety. Recent research indicates that individuals with such conditions may have decreased brain creatine stores, and supplementation could alleviate symptoms. While studies show benefits with creatine use alongside medication, the impact of creatine alone is yet to be explored. The conversation also touches on creatine's potential in enhancing cognitive function, especially under stress or in older adults, and its anti-inflammatory properties that could benefit overall brain health.

Takeaways

• 🧠 Creatine's role in brain health is a growing area of research, with studies suggesting it may help alleviate symptoms of mood disorders like depression and anxiety.
• 💊 Individuals with clinical depression or anxiety may have decreased brain creatine stores, and creatine supplementation could potentially offset some negative effects.
• 🔬 The brain's high bioenergetic demands lead to significant consumption of creatine, making it a critical molecule for cognitive function.
• 👨‍🔬 While studies show benefits with creatine supplementation, they are often conducted alongside medication, not as a standalone treatment.
• 🌐 The brain's unique ability to produce creatine means that dietary intake may not significantly affect brain creatine levels, unlike in muscle tissue.
• 🏋️‍♂️ Creatine's benefits for cognitive function are more pronounced in stressed conditions like hypoxia or sleep deprivation.
• 👶 Creatine shows potential in improving memory and cognitive performance, especially in older adults and in conditions of brain stress.
• 🧪 The mechanism by which creatine aids brain health is thought to involve reducing oxidative stress and improving mitochondrial health.
• 🌱 Vegetarian and vegan diets, which are typically low in creatine, do not seem to deplete brain creatine levels, suggesting the brain's efficient self-regulation.
• 💊 For brain health, higher and longer-term creatine supplementation (around 10 grams per day for several weeks) may be necessary due to the brain's limited uptake.

Q & A

What is the relationship between creatine and mood disorders like depression and anxiety?

Research suggests that individuals diagnosed with depression, anxiety, or PTSD may have decreased brain creatine stores. Creatine supplementation may help offset some negative effects and decrease symptoms of these mood disorders.

How does creatine affect memory and cognitive function?

Creatine seems to improve memory or recall, especially in older adults and when the brain is under stress, such as during hypoxia or sleep deprivation.

What is the role of creatine in the brain's bioenergetics?

Creatine plays a role in the brain's bioenergetics by decreasing oxidative stress and improving mitochondrial health, which can translate into better brain function and performance.

How does creatine supplementation affect individuals on a vegan or vegetarian diet?

Vegans and vegetarians have less creatine in their muscles compared to omnivores, but their brain creatine levels are not affected by dietary intake, as the brain is efficient at maintaining its own creatine levels.

What are the potential benefits of creatine for cognitive performance in younger adults?

In younger adults, creatine has shown some beneficial effects on cognitive performance and can decrease the risk or incidence of post-concussion syndrome in children.

How does creatine affect neuroinflammation and inflammation in the body?

Creatine has potential anti-inflammatory effects that could decrease neural inflammation and oxidative stress, which are linked to improved brain bioenergetics and function.

What is the recommended dosage of creatine for brain health?

For brain health, it is suggested that 10 to 20 grams a day for multiple weeks may be required to increase brain content and lead to beneficial effects.

How does creatine production in the brain differ from that in the liver and kidneys?

Creatine production in the brain is identical to that in the liver and kidneys, involving two enzymes and three amino acids: arginine, glycine, and methionine.

What is the average daily production of creatine in the human body?

On average, about 1 to 3 grams of creatine is naturally produced in a 70-kilogram human per day, with some variability in the brain's production.

Can creatine be used as a nootropic for immediate cognitive enhancement?

Creatine does not provide an instantaneous cognitive boost. Its effects are more accumulative and require a longer-term supplementation for significant results in the brain.