EFFECTS OF THE SINERGY BETWEEN CREATINE AND CAFFEINE ON THE COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

The growing interest in strategies aimed at optimizing mental performance has stimulated the investigation of substances with ergogenic and neuromodulatory potential, among which creatine and caffeine stand out. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the co-ingestion of these compounds on cognitive functions, such as attention, memory, and processing speed, in healthy adults. A qualitative literature review was conducted between July 2024 and January 2025, using the PubMed, SciELO, and Google Scholar databases, complemented by a manual search. Original articles, reviews, and meta-analyses published between 2010 and 2024 were included, addressing the isolated and combined effects of creatine and caffeine on cognitive performance. The results indicate that creatine, by promoting cerebral ATP resynthesis and stabilizing energy metabolism, and caffeine, by acting as an adenosine receptor antagonist and increasing neuronal excitability, may exert complementary effects on brain function modulation. The reviewed studies demonstrate improvements in parameters such as attention, reaction time, and resistance to mental fatigue, although findings vary according to dosage, supplementation protocol, and individual differences. It is concluded that the co-ingestion of creatine and caffeine shows synergistic potential to enhance cognitive performance, yet further research with standardized methodologies and controlled designs is required to confirm its efficacy and safety in different contexts of application.