Lithium and Alzheimer's disease

I can’t believe this wasn’t previously studied but this could be quite the breakthrough if it’s proven in humans too.

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-02471-4

“The paper reports that analyses of human brain tissue and a series of mouse experiments point to a consistent pattern: when lithium concentrations in the brain decline, memory loss tends to develop, as do neurological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease called amyloid plaquesand tau tangles. The study also found evidence in mice that a specific type of lithium supplement undoes these neurological changes and rolls back memory loss, restoring the brain to a younger, healthier state.”

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Thank you for posting this. I saw the article the other day and wasn’t sure which thread to post it in. Back in my early days as a researcher, we were combing the literature for neuroprotective compounds. Lithium came up in one of the searches but was not even researched further because the boss thought it was “crazy.” Maybe it was not that crazy after all.

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Here’s another article about the research: https://hms.harvard.edu/news/could-lithium-explain-treat-alzheimers-disease. I think it’s really important research, and it sounds like it would be a cost-effective approach. People could really benefit if it pans out.

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That page mentions giving the mice lithium ororate in their water, and that lithium ororate was more effective than lithium carbonate.

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Why would it be crazy to consider Lithium? Honest question, curious to know what made it so off the beaten path - inherent known properties, previous use… Had it been used and discarded previously for another ailment or problem different from Alzheimer’s?

Not sure why. It was in the nineties. :slight_smile:

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Fascinating. Lithium orotate is an inexpensive supplement widely available over the counter.

Adding, just looking at this a little bit today, what I am seeing in discussions for other conditions, is that the trace-mineral types of levels available in supplement form apparently can compete with some sort of thyroid receptor for iodine, potentially causing a need for a bit of iodine for some individuals. And dosing seems all very individualized. Just saying, things may not be super straightforward, but may require a bit more effort and thought, trial and error, and perhaps patience. Seems unlikely that one could easily come up with a one-size-fits-all recommendation.

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I don’t have the time right now but is this the study that shows like the melting of plaque in the brain. I saw a study and it reversed the effects of it on the brain and the trial person family couldn’t believe the difference.