By doing this study, researchers hope to see if creatine monohydrate is a helpful treatment for people with Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disorder that causes memory and thinking problems. Current medications may temporarily help with symptoms but cannot stop the disease from getting worse. As such, new treatments that slow or stop the disease from progressing are needed. There is some evidence from animal studies that taking creatine monohydrate may improve thinking in Alzheimer's disease and be good for brain health. However, no studies have looked at creatine monohydrate supplementation in humans with Alzheimer's. Creatine monohydrate is a dietary supplement regulated by the FDA. This is a study that will test if taking creatine monohydrate may be a helpful treatment for people with Alzheimer's disease. In this study, investigators will will evaluate: 1. Whether persons with Alzheimer's disease are able to easily take creatine monohydrate for 8 weeks. 2. Whether creatine monohydrate affects thinking function in people with Alzheimer's Disease. 3. Whether creatine monohydrate affects certain biochemicals in the brain and body. 4. Whether creatine monohydrate improves muscle size and strength.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
20
Participants will take 20 grams of creatine monohydrate daily for 8 weeks.The 20 grams will be divided into two equal 10 gram doses that will be stirred into a beverage. One 10 gram dose will be taken in the morning and the other 10 gram dose in evening.
University of Kansas Medical Center
Kansas City, Kansas, United States
Adherence to Creatine Monohydrate Intervention
Participants will keep a daily supplement tracker (with the help of a consenting study partner). They will also bring unconsumed creatine monohydrate powder to study visits where study personnel will measure and validate against expected intake.
Time frame: 8 weeks
Change in Blood Creatine
Measure of serum creatine levels at baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks.
Time frame: Baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks
Change in Brain Creatine Status
Brain total creatine levels are measured in the brain using magnetic resonance spectroscopy in a 3 T clinical scanner.
Time frame: Baseline and 8 weeks
Change in Cognition
NIH Toolbox (NIH-TB) Cognition Battery will be used to assess changes in a composite global cognition score at baseline and 8 weeks.
Time frame: Baseline and 8 weeks
Change in Peripheral Mitochondrial Respiration
Blood platelet and leukocyte mitochondrial respiration (oxygen consumption) will be determined using the Oroboros Oxygraph-2K system.
Time frame: Baseline and 8 weeks
Change in Muscle Strength
Muscle strength will be tested on the right quadriceps femoris (upper leg) using an isokinetic dynamometer.
Time frame: Baseline and 8 weeks
Change in Muscle Size
Muscle size of the right quadriceps femoris (upper leg) will be determined using ultrasonography (ultrasound).
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Time frame: Baseline and 8 Weeks