#Cognition
Articles tagged #Cognition on Vitalspell.
Can creatine blunt sleep-loss brain fog? The 2026 study
Creatine and sleep deprivation met in a 29-person crossover trial that found modest cognitive protection, but only at an unusually high acute dose.
What Creatine Actually Does for Women's Muscle, Brain and Menopause
A sweeping 2025 review argues women metabolise creatine differently than men — and the gap widens during the menopause transition. But a closer look at the cognitive evidence reveals a single small trial, uncorrected multiple comparisons, and a perimenopause-shaped hole in the research.
Why women have less creatine in their brains — and what the evidence says about supplementing it
Women have 70 to 80 percent lower brain creatine stores than men. A 2024 meta-analysis and the 2025 CONCRET-MENOPA trial suggest supplementation may improve memory and processing speed — here is the evidence, the gaps, and what we still do not know.
Thinking About Creatine? What Researchers Actually Want You to Know First
Creatine monohydrate is one of the most studied supplements in existence — but most of what circulates online gets the details wrong. Researchers Richard Kreider, Jan Brauner, and Bruno Gualano unpack what 30 years of evidence actually shows about muscle, cognition, kidney safety, and why you can skip the loading phase.
Limited evidence links creatine to better cognition in older adults
A systematic review of six studies finds creatine may benefit memory and attention in adults over 55. The evidence is thin, with only one of six studies rated methodologically 'good.' The authors say high-quality trials are needed before clinical recommendations.
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Magnesium L-threonate improved cognition by 7.5 cognitive years in 6-week trial
A 6-week randomised trial in 100 adults found that 2 grams per day of magnesium L-threonate (Magtein) improved overall cognitive performance and reduced estimated brain cognitive age by 7.5 years. Sleep improvements were selective, but heart rate and heart rate variability both moved in favourable directions.
L-theanine plus caffeine improved attention within two hours, meta-analysis finds
L-theanine combined with caffeine produced small-to-moderate gains in attention switching and digit vigilance within two hours of ingestion, a meta-analysis of 15 RCTs found. The benefits were real but modest, and confidence intervals revealed substantial uncertainty around the effect sizes.
Oyster mushrooms preserved mood and cut inflammation in older adults
A crossover trial in Food & Function found that a single serving of oyster mushrooms preserved positive mood and reduced three inflammatory markers compared to placebo over 6 hours, but showed no consistent cognitive benefit in healthy adults aged 60 to 80.
Lion's Mane extract showed no overall cognitive improvement in acute trial
A double-blind trial in Frontiers in Nutrition found that a single 3-gram dose of Lion's Mane fruiting body extract did not significantly improve overall cognition or mood in healthy young adults, though fine motor dexterity improved on the pegboard test.