Neuroscientist and host of the Huberman Lab podcast, Andrew Huberman, has long been a very public supporter of creatine for several different reasons. Not surprisingly, it goes well beyond the benefits the popular supplement can provide when used with workouts and weight lifting, a topic he’s addressed head-on in various conversations and social media posts.
However, the latest breakdown of creatine’s impact and Huberman’s evaluation of its benefits puts a focus on mood and motivation, among other aspects. Huberman took a bit more of a deep dive into creatine’s cognitive benefits, along with how it can benefit brain function, during a recent episode of his podcast.
Andrew Huberman’s Latest Take on Creatine and Mental Health
There have been several mental health benefits of creatine highlighted in recent years. Huberman has referenced the supplement as one he takes daily, specifically citing the cognitive benefits and positive impact on brain function.
“Creatine can actually be used as a fuel source in the brain and there’s some evidence that it can enhance the function of certain frontal cortical circuits that feed down onto, or rather connect to, areas of the brain that are involved in mood regulation and motivation,” Huberman explains.
The neuroscientist went on to discuss the threshold to target in order to get the cognitive benefit of creatine.
“What is the threshold level of creatine to supplement in order to get the cognitive benefit? [It] appears to be at least five grams per day,” Huberman continued. “Now, the most typical form of creatine is so-called creatine monohydrate. I think it’s interesting that creatine supplementation of five grams per day has been shown to improve cognition in people that aren’t getting creatine from animal sources (meat).”
Huberman goes on to explain that he’s taken it for a very long time and that it’s essentially a “baseline insurance policy,” and he uses supplements to set a “general context of support” for the brain.
The positive returns creatine can provide, even beyond working out, have been touted by several other various neuroscientists, neurologists and other specialists along with Huberman. It’s become one of the most interesting topics and supplements that have the potential to help in areas many struggle with, including mood and motivation, among other things.
Related: Andrew Huberman Explains Caffeine’s Surprising Impact on Focus and Performance
