Lithium | Neurologist Reviews Evidence and Top Brands

A 15-month randomized placebo-controlled trial found that 0.3 mg daily of lithium stabilized cognitive impairment in people with Alzheimer's dementia after 3 months compared to placebo

“one involved a 15-month randomized placebo control trial that found that 0.3 mg daily of lithium stabilized cognitive impairment with people with Alzheimer's dementia after 3 months of taking Lithium compared to Placebo”

A Brazilian study found that people with mild cognitive impairment who took lithium daily had decreased levels of phosphorylated tau (p-tau), a marker for Alzheimer's disease, and performed better on cognitive tests compared to those treated with placebo

“yet another study based out of Brazil found that people with mild cognitive impairment who took lithium daily had decreased levels of a marker for Alzheimer's disease known as p and they also performed better on cognitive tests compared to those treated with Placebo”

Multiple studies, both animal and clinical, have shown that lithium supplementation can extend health and lifespan, potentially through its effects on telomeres, which are repetitive DNA sequences at chromosome ends that protect chromosomes from deterioration during cell division

“with regard to lithium's anti-aging properties multiple studies both animal and clinical Studies have shown that lithium supplementation can extend health and lifespan we don't know the exact mechanism of action for its anti-aging properties but we think it has something to do with its effects on something called the tiir tiir are repetitive DNA sequences at the ends of chromosomes that protect the chromosomes from deterioration during cell division”

A study found that people with bipolar disorder taking lithium had longer telomeres than healthy age-matched controls, and given that people with bipolar disorder have accelerated aging, this suggests lithium may potentially reverse aging by increasing telomere length

“I also found a study that discover that people with bipolar disorder taking Lithium had longer T Mars than healthy AG matched controls given that people with bipolar disorder have accelerated aging this study suggests that lithium May potentially reverse aging by increasing T length”

Lithium inhibits GSK3 (glycogen synthase kinase 3), an enzyme that promotes neuroinflammation and aging by regulating epigenetic factors, and GSK3 becomes overactive under chronic psychological stress, causing neuroinflammation that impairs mood and memory

“lithium modulates various cellular mechanisms I'm not going to go into details with these but I did want to make note of its effects on an enzyme called gsk3 because this is fascinating so lithium inhibits gsk3 also known as glycogen synthetase kyese 3 gsk3 promotes neuroinflammation and aging by regulating epigenetic factors gsk3 is overactive when someone is under chronic psychological stress which thereby causes neuroinflammation so this neuroinflammation can lead to impaired mood and memory”

Lithium compounds require a carrier molecule for the body to absorb the lithium, and only a small part of a lithium compound contains the active form of lithium—for example, lithium orotate is only about 3.83% elemental lithium, while prescription lithium carbonate is about 18.8% elemental lithium

“a carrier is necessary for your body to be able to absorb the lithium...it's important to understand that only a small part of a lithium compound actually contains the active form of lithium for example in lithium orate only about 3.83% of the compound is active lithium and in prescription lithium carbonate drugs it's about 18.8% this difference can be confusing because prescription medications often list the dose based on the total amount of lithium compound while supplements focused on the amount of Elemental lithium”

Lithium has been shown in multiple studies to be associated with preservation of telomere length, and several human studies have found that people taking lithium have preserved telomere length

“lithium in multiple studies has been shown to be associated with preservation of T length multiple human Studies have found that people taking Lithium have preserved T length”

At low doses, lithium appears to be well tolerated and safe based on the majority of available data, and a systematic review of 16 studies on low-dose lithium found that no safety concerns were raised in any of these studies

“at low doses lithium seems to be well tolerated however and it seems to be safe based on the majority of the available data the systematic review that I mentioned earlier that found 16 studies measuring the effects of lotos lithium they found that no safety concerns were raised in any of these studies”

The majority of studies on low-dose lithium seem to indicate that it holds neuroprotective, mood-stabilizing, and anti-aging properties, however larger and more rigorous studies, presumably randomized control trials, would be helpful to better understand and define the effects

“considering all of this information the majority of these studies seem to indicate that lotos lithium holds neuroprotective mood stabilizing as well as anti-aging properties however larger and more rigorous studies presumably randomized control trials would be helpful to better understand and Define the effects of low do lithium”

Another study of 70 people with mild Alzheimer's disease showed no significant improvement in cognitive functioning compared to placebo

“however another study that I found of 70 people with mild Alzheimer's disease showed no significant Improvement in cognitive functioning compared to”

Lithium has shown neuroprotective effects in multiple brain regions, and people taking lithium for bipolar disorder have been found to have increased gray matter volume in regions associated with memory formation and social and emotional regulation

“lithium has shown neuroprotective effects in multiple brain regions for instance people taking lithium for bipolar disorder have been found to have increased gray matter volume and various regions of the brain associated with memory formation and social and emotional regulation”

A systematic review of low-dose lithium found 4 studies measuring its effects on cognitive disorders, 3 of the 4 studies were positive, and none of these studies had high risk of bias

“a systematic review of lotos lithium found four studies that measured lotos lithium's effects on cognitive disorders three of the four studies were positive and none of these studies were at a high risk of bias”

One separate study of individuals taking low-dose lithium revealed a higher likelihood of developing diabetes, cardiac rhythm problems or arrhythmias, weight gain, and thyroid dysfunction

“I did find one separate study of individuals taking lotos Lithium which revealed a higher likelihood of developing diabetes cardiac Rhythm problems or arrhythmias weight gain and thyroid dysfunction”

Lithium orotate is the most common form of lithium available over the counter, possibly due to research suggesting its greater effectiveness at lower dosages, attributed to its ability to penetrate cells and the blood-brain barrier more easily compared to other forms

“lithium orotate is the most common form of lithium available over the counter possibly due to research suggesting its greater effectiveness at lower dosages attributed to its ability to penetrate cells and the bloodb Brain barrier more easily compared to other forms”

At the neurotransmitter level, lithium inhibits dopamine and glutamate (the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain), while promoting GABA (the major inhibitory neurotransmitter)

“at the level of neurotransmitters lithium modulates various neurotransmitters it inhibits dopamine and glutamate now glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain and too much glutamate has been linked to injury and death death of neurons lithium also promotes Gaba which is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter”

Multiple observational studies found that low-dose lithium consumption through water supply was associated with decreased rates of suicide and violent criminal behavior

“there have been multiple observational studies that have found that lowd do lithium consumption through water supply has been associated with decreased rates of suicide and violent criminal Behavior”

Higher doses of lithium can result in toxicity manifesting as lethargy, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, impaired balance, and muscle tremors, and prolonged exposure to high levels can adversely affect thyroid and kidney function

“higher doses of any form of lithium can result in toxicity often manifesting as lethargy nausea vomiting abdominal pain impaired balance and muscle Tremors also prolonged exposure to high levels of lithium can adversely affect thyroid function and kidney function”

Telomeres shorten with each cell division, and this shortening contributes to cellular aging because as they shorten the DNA they are attached to becomes less protected from damage and mutations

“the issue is that tiir shorten with each division this shortening of tiir contributes to cellular aging because as they shorten the DNA they are attached to is less protected from damage and mutations”

It is important to conduct thorough research and choose supplement brands that undergo third-party testing and adhere to good manufacturing practices or the US pharmacopeial method to ensure supplement quality and safety

“that's why it's really imperative to conduct thorough research and choose brands that undergo third party testing and adhere to good manufacturing practices or abide by the uh us pharmacopia method”

The supplement industry lacks regulation, and this lack of oversight can lead to shortcuts by supplement companies, resulting in either the presence of toxic chemicals such as heavy metals or infectious agents, or inaccurate labeling of active ingredient amounts

“the neutral industry lacks regulation and this lack of oversight can lead to shortcuts by some supplement companies which ultimately results in either the presence of toxic chemicals such as heavy metals or infectious agents or some Brands may not accurately label the amount of active ingredient in their supplements”

Lithium carbonate is the type of lithium commonly prescribed for bipolar disorder but is only obtainable with a prescription, while over-the-counter options include lithium aspartate, lithium orotate, lithium citrate, and lithium chloride

“lithium carb carbonate is the type of lithium that is commonly prescribed for bipolar disorder but it's only obtainable with a prescription overthe counter options include lithium aspartate lithium orotate lithium citrate and lithium chloride”

The World Health Organization classified lithium in group C of its report on trace elements in human nutrition and health, placing it alongside fluoride, lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic, and aluminum—elements identified as potentially toxic but some possibly having essential functions

“The World Health Organization has included lithium in its report Trace elements in human nutrition and health and it placed it in group C which identifies Elements which are potentially toxic some possibly have essential functions however so lithium is placed in the same group as fluoride lead cadmium Mercury arsenic aluminum and Tin”