Public Health.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Neurology
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with reduced skeletal muscle mass, impairing physical function and potentially accelerating disease progression.
• The muscle-brain axis suggests skeletal muscle influences AD risk and pathology.
• Interventions to increase muscle size could help prevent functional decline in AD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of eight-week creatine monohydrate (CrM) supplementation on leg muscle cross-sectional area (mCSA) in older adults with AD.
• To assess the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of CrM supplementation in an AD population.

Main Methods:

• A single-arm pilot study analyzed data from 18 participants with probable AD.
• Participants received 20 g/day of CrM for eight weeks.
• Ultrasonography was used to measure mCSA of the rectus femoris (RF) and vastus medialis (VM) at baseline and after eight weeks.

Main Results:

• After eight weeks, mean mCSA increased in both the RF (7.6 to 7.8 cm², p=0.03) and VM (10.1 to 10.2 cm², p=0.01).
• Body Mass Index (BMI) did not change significantly.
• The study demonstrated preliminary efficacy of CrM supplementation in increasing muscle size in individuals with AD.

Conclusions:

• Eight-week supplementation with 20 g/day of CrM may increase muscle size in individuals with AD.
• These modest gains could be clinically significant in managing muscle loss associated with progressive AD.
• CrM supplementation may represent a viable strategy to maintain muscle mass or slow functional decline in AD patients.