Lithium opens up prospects in psychiatric medicine and Alzheimer's treatment research

Lithium - a potential mainstay in psychiatric medicine and Alzheimer's research

Lithium is considered a potential mainstay in psychiatric medicine and Alzheimer's research. (Illustration: Wikipedia)

Lithium has long been a treatment for bipolar disorder, helping to prevent alternating episodes of mania and depression and reducing the risk of suicide. However, lithium is prescribed to only about a third of patients, because blood levels need to be closely monitored to avoid side effects such as kidney damage, thyroid disorders, and increased urination.

Used in salt form, lithium remains the most effective mood stabilizer. Advances in brain imaging have shown that lithium promotes neuronal plasticity, increasing dendritic density in the prefrontal cortex, strengthening connections between neurons, and protecting gray matter. However, nearly 70% of bipolar patients do not respond to medication, a condition linked to the absence or underactivity of the LEF1 gene, which limits lithium’s regulatory effects on overexcited neurons.

Lithium has recently been studied for its potential role in preventing and supporting the treatment of Alzheimer's, a disease that affects nearly 140,000 people in Belgium. Professor Jean-Christophe Bier, a neurologist at Erasme University Hospital in Brussels, said studies on mice showed that amyloid plaques, characteristic of Alzheimer's, are able to absorb and retain lithium. Tests on mice supplemented with lithium orotate showed reduced nerve damage and improved memory.

Lithium orotate is a compound of lithium combined with orotic acid, which has been studied as a lithium supplement to support neurological health. Unlike lithium prescribed for bipolar disorder, lithium orotate has not been fully proven for its effectiveness and safety in humans, as studies have mainly been on animals. However, these studies have opened up potential directions for the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

In addition, toxicity and economic barriers remain. Therapeutic doses of lithium can cause serious side effects in the kidneys, thyroid, and brain. Lithium research is expensive, and lithium drugs are not profitable, limiting investment. Newer therapies, such as anti-amyloid monoclonal antibodies, slow disease progression by only about six months over an 18-month period, and come with side effects and high costs.

Faced with this reality, Professor Bier emphasized: “Lithium is not a cure for Alzheimer’s. We need to continue research, be cautious in clinical applications and optimize its use to both maximize effectiveness and limit side effects.”

Nevertheless, lithium remains a fascinating and mysterious research topic, continuing to open up new avenues for the treatment of psychiatric disorders and neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s. The metal’s medical history is far from over, but caution remains paramount in every step of its clinical application.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/lithium-mo-ra-trien-vong-trong-y-hoc-tam-than-va-nghien-cuu-dieu-tri-alzheimer-326465.html