How Creatine Can Help with Concussion & Traumatic Brain Injury | Dr. Andrew Huberman

This clip is pulled from the "How to Stop Headaches Using Science-Based Approaches" episode of Huberman Lab. The full episode can be found on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/CGjdgy0cwGk

Had post concussion syndrome for three years. It nearly ruined my life. What worked for me was steady state exercise at an intensity slightly below a threshold of symptoms. I followed the protocol for the Buffalo Concussion Treadmill test, followed by the Blackhawks conditioning test to return to tennis. Rest is not always best after a head injury, if your CT is negative as is he case in 99%, don’t lie in bed for weeks on end, as this is associated with a negative outcome, and long lasting syndrome.

Life long headaches from having a concussion as a child. Started taking creatine recently and noticed my headaches stopped. Decided to take a break for a few days and they came back. Couldn't figure out why...then it occured to me that I stopped the creatine. Decided to do a quick search on creatine and headaches and it took me here. Thank you so much for this information, not only for myself but for my 2 athletic teen boys who play football and basketball. Thankyou!!

Thankyou My son has a TBI and has headaches dissiness and fatigue This is very interesting

Attia recently interviewed Micky Collins, who described post-concussion as (amongst other things) an energy crisis for the brain. It would seem creatine can help deliver energy to the brain. I recently had good results with creatine + potassium + walking after a relatively minor head bonk that made me a bit punch drunk. My wife gets migraines, which might also be linked to an energy crisis in the brain. If she takes ketones before the migraine develops, it helps mitigate it and prevent it from developing. FWIW.

I began supplementing my diet with creatine ten years after surviving a stroke. Mostly positives but no negative side effects so I will continue.

Thank you, Andrew.

Love this! I actually just wrote a systematic review on this for my capstone! (Hoping it gets published soon) we need to talk about this more so more research is conducted! Also, there should be a clinical trial on this topic being performed in Denmark soon which could be massive for concussion recovery!

I suffer from TBI since i was 14 y/o. I’m 37 now. I started a couple of months ago with 10mg day and i can see my muscles are much fuller. I do feel a difference in completing tasks, it really makes a difference! I did gain weight, about 3-4kilograms, but i take it for granted. I train hard, i do the morning routine e-ve-ry day, i can really recommend it to more of us(TBI). Feel less fatiqued, much better sleep..

Uyy! Que esperanzadora y estupenda noticia, gracias por compartir ❤

00:06 Creatine can significantly reduce the intensity and/or frequency of headaches. 01:24 Creatine is effective for treating headache caused by head hits or traumatic brain injury. 02:37 Creatine administration after traumatic brain injury can help regulate calcium levels in nerve cells. 03:50 Creatine can be stored in brain tissue and is important for cognition and personality. 05:12 Supplementing with higher doses of creatine may reduce headache frequency 06:31 Creatine supplementation shows significant decrease in headache frequency after TBI 07:51 Creatine monohydrate supplementation may help with TBI symptoms 09:10 Creatine supplementation may help with headaches in people with TBI. Crafted by Merlin AI.

Gosh! I wish I would have known this 4 years ago. I suffered a TBI and post concussion syndrome. The migraine and. Dizziness kept me down for almost 3 years. I’m now fully recovered. That’s to persistently improving my health, diet and exercise. I take creatine everyday and I can feel the difference.

After a car accident I was diagnosed with mild traumatic brain injury which 12 years later and still symptomatic I wouldn't have labeled it mild. I now have a chronic vestibular condition slightly improved but not fully compensated. But the worst part for me is I can absolutely no longer organize anything, especially paperwork. After so long a time I wonder if this would help me. No doctor has offered me anything pharmaceutically but sedation which isn't helpful mostly. I did benefit from physical therapy in that it gave me the confidence to leave my house but that's about it.

My guess is that taking creatine in the morning would be the best time to take it since your hormones and energy levels reset during that time. I think GInko Biloba and creatine taken together could also help a traumatic brain injury as Ginko pushes blood into your brain and if that happens with creatine in your system, it will concentrate the creatine into your brain helping aid in protein synthesis and removing of protein blockages that happen as we age.

having post concussion symptoms since july. nothing has helped other than exercise. going to try creatine today and update soon

My understanding is that this study is from around 2008 - correct me if I'm wrong. But if the prospects of this is to promising, how come it isn't more common to try creatine before getting amitriptyline and so on?

I wonder if any current research on the use of creatine as a cure for childhood/paediatric TBI?

I've been enduring concussion symptoms since March without overt treatment until trying 20g+ of CMH last night and I can honestly say my symptoms are what feel like 90% gone. This is incredible and not to be understated. My balance, memory, clarity, neck pain, etc all mostly clear after just first trial. Will update in few days thanks Andrew for not letting this go unnoticed!

Thank you! Would love to see your thoughts on treating disrupted brain-gut connection after TBI. There is not enough information about that on internet so probably you could share your thoughts :)

Sometimes it’s just dehydration. Maybe they take more water as well trying to consume creatine. I hat I am trying to say is that you should start from the simplest possible solution before adding anything (even if creatine is relatively safe).