Scientists at Harvard Medical School have made a groundbreaking discovery that may hold new hope for treating Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers found that lithium levels in the brain are closely linked to the condition, and that taking lithium supplements can reverse Alzheimer’s-like memory loss in mice.
The study, led by a team of researchers, investigated previous links between metal exposure and dementia risk. They analyzed hundreds of donated brain tissue and blood samples from people with advanced Alzheimer’s, early-stage mild cognitive impairment, and no cognitive issues at all. The results showed that only one metal – lithium – had significant differences in abundance between the groups.
Lithium is a nutrient that is naturally present in the environment, similar to iron and vitamin C. According to geneticist and neurologist Bruce Yankner, “the idea that lithium deficiency could be a cause of Alzheimer’s disease is new and suggests a different therapeutic approach.”
The researchers found that amyloid-beta protein clumps, which are associated with Alzheimer’s, seemed to bind to lithium in the brain, reducing its availability to neurons. However, when mice were given small doses of a specific type of lithium called lithium orotate, their memory function was restored, and other signs of cognitive decline were reversed.
While further studies are needed to clarify how lithium levels drop and lead to dementia, the results are promising. If successful, this could lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease through measuring patients’ lithium levels, as well as the use of lithium supplements as a preventative or treatment option.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/alzheimers-breakthrough-lithium-reverses-memory-loss-in-mice