Lithium could be key to preventing Alzheimer's: Study
A new Harvard Medical School study, published this August, suggests lithium—the same stuff used to treat bipolar disorder—might actually help protect the brain from Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers found that lithium naturally exists in our brains and plays a key role in defending against the changes linked to Alzheimer's.
Promising results in mice
The team spent 10 years studying human brain tissue and running mouse experiments.
They discovered that low lithium levels could be an early warning sign for Alzheimer's, which mostly affects people over 65 by hurting memory and thinking skills.
Even more promising: special lithium compounds restored memory in mice without the toxicity seen at higher doses.
Experts like Dr. Sudhir Kumar suggest that low-dose lithium might one day become a simple way to help prevent Alzheimer's—not just treat mood disorders.