{"id":819359,"date":"2026-03-11T18:00:27","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T18:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/819359\/"},"modified":"2026-03-11T18:00:27","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T18:00:27","slug":"halle-berry-59-swears-by-creatine-for-reducing-menopausal-brain-fog-heres-the-science","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/819359\/","title":{"rendered":"Halle Berry, 59, swears by creatine for reducing menopausal brain fog \u2013 here&#8217;s the science"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"4\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">At 59, Halle Berry is a fountain of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.womenshealthmag.com\/uk\/perimenopause-menopause\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.womenshealthmag.com\/uk\/perimenopause-menopause\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"(peri)menopause\" data-node-id=\"4.1\" class=\"body-link css-1e57p3n emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">(peri)menopause<\/a> knowledge. Of course, every woman\u2019s experiences differ, but Halle has spent a considerable amount of time researching what might actually help alleviate symptoms and what, in her own words, is \u2018bullsh*t\u2019. Like many others, when she initially sought support for her perimenopausal symptoms, she was dismissed, receiving several misdiagnoses, including for herpes. <\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"9\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">This led Halle down a path of self-advocacy and independent research into (peri)menopause \u2013 the findings of which she\u2019s been vocal about. Discussing the lifestyle changes and health habits that have helped her navigate menopause on a recent episode of The Run-Through with Vogue <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UmvkP-UAYQY&amp;t=4s\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=UmvkP-UAYQY&amp;t=4s\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"podcast\" data-node-id=\"9.5\" class=\"body-link css-1e57p3n emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">podcast<\/a>, Halle revealed that she\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.womenshealthmag.com\/uk\/health\/mental-health\/a64564345\/transcendental-meditation\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.womenshealthmag.com\/uk\/health\/mental-health\/a64564345\/transcendental-meditation\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"meditating\" data-node-id=\"9.7\" class=\"body-link css-1e57p3n emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">meditating<\/a> more, eats more carbs, has switched cardio-based exercise like running for (heavy) lifting, worked on her <a href=\"https:\/\/www.womenshealthmag.com\/uk\/health\/sleep\/a69630255\/4-sleep-rules-that-matter\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.womenshealthmag.com\/uk\/health\/sleep\/a69630255\/4-sleep-rules-that-matter\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"sleep\" data-node-id=\"9.9\" class=\"body-link css-1e57p3n emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">sleep<\/a>, and started experimenting with vitamins and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.womenshealthmag.com\/uk\/food\/a65114354\/supplements-nutritionists-take\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.womenshealthmag.com\/uk\/food\/a65114354\/supplements-nutritionists-take\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"supplements\" data-node-id=\"9.11\" class=\"body-link css-1e57p3n emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">supplements<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p><strong data-node-id=\"10.0\">What supplements does Halle take?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"14\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">As well as adding <a href=\"https:\/\/www.womenshealthmag.com\/uk\/health\/sleep\/a69541505\/magnesium-sleep-science\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.womenshealthmag.com\/uk\/health\/sleep\/a69541505\/magnesium-sleep-science\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"magnesium\" data-node-id=\"14.1\" class=\"body-link css-1e57p3n emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">magnesium<\/a> to her stack, Halle explained that she has also started taking <a href=\"https:\/\/www.womenshealthmag.com\/uk\/fitness\/strength-training\/a42178665\/creatine\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.womenshealthmag.com\/uk\/fitness\/strength-training\/a42178665\/creatine\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"creatine\" data-node-id=\"14.3\" class=\"body-link css-1e57p3n emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">creatine<\/a> despite previously thinking she never would, having associated it with bodybuilders and bulking. \u2018I thought I would never take creatine \u2013 that\u2019s going to blow me up \u2013 but no\u2026 girl needs that,\u2019 she said on the podcast, adding that it \u2018helps with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.womenshealthmag.com\/uk\/health\/mental-health\/a64219839\/mindfulness-brain-fog\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.womenshealthmag.com\/uk\/health\/mental-health\/a64219839\/mindfulness-brain-fog\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"brain fog\" data-node-id=\"14.5\" class=\"body-link css-1e57p3n emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">brain fog<\/a>.\u2019<\/p>\n<p><strong data-node-id=\"16.0\">Does creatine help with brain fog?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"20\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">So, are there merits to Halle\u2019s claim? Well, creatine is actually one of the most-researched supplements out there, with studies highlighting benefits such as increased muscle mass and strength, bone density maintenance and energy levels. <\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"25\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">In recent years, as well as the physical benefits, research has also increasingly explored the potential cognitive benefits of creatine. For example, we\u2019ve seen early but promising studies suggesting it may help <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/11985880\/\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/11985880\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"reduce mental fatigue\" data-node-id=\"25.1\" class=\"body-link css-1e57p3n emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">reduce mental fatigue<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/40395689\/\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/40395689\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"improve cognitive scores in Alzheimer&#039;s patients\" data-node-id=\"25.3\" class=\"body-link css-1e57p3n emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">improve cognitive scores in Alzheimer&#8217;s patients<\/a>, be an effective <a href=\"https:\/\/psychiatryonline.org\/doi\/full\/10.1176\/appi.ajp.2012.12010009\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/psychiatryonline.org\/doi\/full\/10.1176\/appi.ajp.2012.12010009\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"adjunctive treatment for depression\" data-node-id=\"25.5\" class=\"body-link css-1e57p3n emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">adjunctive treatment for depression<\/a>, and, as Halle highlighted, also help with brain fog.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"29\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">Indeed, one small <a href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full\/10.1002\/fsn3.3597\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full\/10.1002\/fsn3.3597\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"study\" data-node-id=\"29.1\" class=\"body-link css-1e57p3n emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">study<\/a> published in Food Science &amp; Nutrition found that, following six months of creatine supplementation, patients with long Covid experienced significant improvements in brain fog.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"34\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">Research has also investigated how supplementing can help tackle the effects of sleep deprivation, which can often trigger mental fog and affects many (peri)menopausal women. One recent <a href=\"https:\/\/go.redirectingat.com?id=127X1380942&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.com%2Farticles%2Fs41598-024-54249-9\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-024-54249-9\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"study\" data-vars-ga-product-id=\"af2b464f-d51f-4c4e-8c86-9cf252b3d197\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-node-id=\"34.1\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-024-54249-9\" data-product-url=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-024-54249-9\" data-affiliate=\"true\" data-affiliate-url=\"https:\/\/go.redirectingat.com?id=127X1380942&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.com%2Farticles%2Fs41598-024-54249-9\" data-affiliate-network=\"{&quot;afflink_redirect&quot;:&quot;\/_p\/afflink\/12d4n\/nature-single-dose-creatine-improves-cognitive&quot;,&quot;site_id&quot;:&quot;d719c6cd-9cae-4efc-94d9-35196862c070&quot;,&quot;network&quot;:{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Skimlinks&quot;}}\" data-vars-ga-product-price=\"$0.00\" data-vars-ga-product-retailer-id=\"103bbbf6-915c-49c8-86a0-69564864d683\" data-vars-ga-link-treatment=\"(not set) | (not set)\" class=\"body-link product-links css-1e57p3n e1aq0z090\" target=\"_blank\">study<\/a> suggested that a single, high dose of creatine may help offset sleep deprivation-associated cognitive decline.   <\/p>\n<p><strong data-node-id=\"35.0\">How does creatine work?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"39\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">So, why can creatine be helpful in these scenarios? First, it\u2019s important to understand what it actually is and how it works. \u2018Creatine is a naturally occurring compound found in small amounts in foods like red meat and fish, and it\u2019s also made in the body from amino acids,\u2019 health and wellbeing physiologist Hannah Belsham previously explained to WH. Women typically have lower baseline muscle creatine stores than men \u2013 meaning we may actually respond better to supplementing \u2013 and while you can obtain some creatine from food, it would be nowhere near the levels of a supplement. <\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"43\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.womenshealthmag.com\/uk\/food\/a67948463\/creatine-benefits-menopause\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.womenshealthmag.com\/uk\/food\/a67948463\/creatine-benefits-menopause\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Creatine\" data-node-id=\"43.0\" class=\"body-link css-1e57p3n emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Creatine<\/a> helps regenerate ATP \u2013 the body\u2019s primary energy currency \u2013 during short bursts of high-intensity exercise, a mechanism which researchers are now suggesting may also support cognitive function. The sleep deprivation study above found that creatine helped sustain normal phosphocreatine and ATP levels in the brain even when participants were severely sleep-deprived. These are vital brain chemicals that play a key role in energy metabolism (how the body produces energy), and if they become imbalanced \u2013 which happens when your sleep suffers \u2013 you can experience a mental fog.<\/p>\n<p><strong data-node-id=\"44.0\">How much creatine should you take?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"48\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">Most experts still generally recommend a daily dose of 3-5g \u2013 as this is what has most commonly been studied \u2013 but some of the newer research on creatine\u2019s potential cognitive benefits uses larger doses. <\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"52\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">We would always recommend consulting a doctor or pharmacist \u2013 who can advise you on dosage, any potential medication interactions and general safety \u2013 when starting a new supplement. <\/p>\n<p>Related Stories<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"At 59, Halle Berry is a fountain of (peri)menopause knowledge. Of course, every woman\u2019s experiences differ, but Halle&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":819360,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[4318],"tags":[104955,228935,236023,219127,1380,236022,1331,3989,105,1330,4434,236020,236021,16,15],"class_list":["post-819359","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nutrition","tag-104955","tag-collection-health-app","tag-collection-nutrition-app","tag-collection-supplements","tag-content-type-news","tag-contentid-ee996f8a-5fdc-4799-b91e-f4a8a4392d2c","tag-displaytype-standard-article","tag-hasproduct-true","tag-health","tag-locale-gb","tag-nutrition","tag-shorttitle-halle-berry","tag-swears-by-creatine-for-brain-fog","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/116211851324658480","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/819359","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=819359"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/819359\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/819360"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=819359"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=819359"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=819359"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}