Creatine is widely known for boosting muscle strength and performance, but overwhelming research in recent years has highlighted benefits that go far beyond the gym. Among the notable recent studies that have surfaced is one that highlights creatine’s ability to help with sleep deprivation and stress.
The study highlighting benefits in those two pivotal areas (among others) aligns interestingly with the breakdown of creatine’s positive role in relation to mood and motivation. This topic was previously discussed by Andrew Huberman on the Huberman Lab podcast and supports the growing evidence that the supplement may have significant effects on brain health and mental performance.
Study’s Findings Point to Creatine’s Impact on Sleep Deprivation and Stress
The study done by Gordji-Nejad et al. (2024) split participants into two groups, with half given a high dose of creatine and the other receiving a placebo during a 21-hour period. As Creatine for Health detailed, the results allowed the group that received creatine to sustain normal levels of phosphocreatine and ATP levels in the brain while severely sleep-deprived.
Along with allowing users to continue performing at a high level during that stretch, it pointed to creatine’s potential ability to offer cognitive support during high-stress situations, with sleep deprivation being an example of that. This aligns with Brandon Luu, MD’s, observation that a dose of 25-30g of creatine “maintains reaction time and executive function for nine hours when others crash,” highlighted in the bottom post on X below.
Sleep deprivation cuts learning capacity by 40%.
But when you can’t sleep: Creatine preserves cognitive function. Single 25-30g dose maintains reaction time and executive function for 9 hours when others crash. /8 pic.twitter.com/mMRacarXfG— Brandon Luu, MD (@BrandonLuuMD) September 4, 2025
To go even one step further, Dr. Darren Candow joined Dr. Rhonda Patrick on the Found My Fitness podcast and discussed this further. According to Candow, the returns could make creatine a possible option to help with conditions such as TBI, dementia and depression. Candow said the brain function after 21 hours of sleep deprivation was even enhanced beyond a well-rested level with a single dose of 25-30g of creatine.
It’s worth noting that the smartest and healthiest approach is to get a full night’s sleep and avoid sleep deprivation, of course. The specific immediate benefit of creatine was noteworthy, as it suggested the impacts of the supplement aren’t only long-term, but as several articles and clips highlight, it’s most beneficial to those facing all-nighters, some who work irregular hours or potentially those struggling with age-related sleep issues.
Related: Andrew Huberman Predicts the Next Big Supplement Breakthrough and Explains Its Benefits
