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usonian

(25,933 posts)
Sun Aug 24, 2025, 01:25 AM Aug 2025

According to Harvard Scientists, Lithium May Be the Key to Stopping Alzheimer's

Un-clickbaited the headline.

https://scitechdaily.com/according-to-harvard-scientists-this-missing-nutrient-may-be-the-key-to-stopping-alzheimers/

Study finds that lithium loss triggers Alzheimer’s, but a lithium-based compound reverses the disease in mice.

What sets off the earliest chain of events that leads to Alzheimer’s disease? And why do some people who show Alzheimer’s-like brain changes never progress to dementia? These unresolved questions have challenged scientists for decades.

Researchers at Harvard Medical School now believe they may have an explanation: a deficiency of lithium in the brain.

Their study, published on August 6 in Nature, demonstrates for the first time that lithium is naturally present in the brain, where it protects against neurodegeneration and supports the normal functioning of all major brain cell types. The findings — a decade in the making — draw on mouse experiments as well as analyses of human brain tissue and blood samples from people at different stages of cognitive health.


Open-access paper.
Abstract:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09335-x

PDF (34 Megabytes )
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09335-x.pdf
8 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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According to Harvard Scientists, Lithium May Be the Key to Stopping Alzheimer's (Original Post) usonian Aug 2025 OP
Fantastic news! Bayard Aug 2025 #1
Lithium orotate ShepKat Aug 2025 #2
Lithium is also used to treat bipolar. mwooldri Aug 2025 #3
This message was self-deleted by its author jfz9580m Aug 2025 #4
I have consumed for over 50 years ShepKat Sep 2025 #5
Sorry about that jfz9580m Sep 2025 #6
That too :) ShepKat Sep 2025 #7
Agree completely jfz9580m Sep 2025 #8

Bayard

(29,975 posts)
1. Fantastic news!
Sun Aug 24, 2025, 01:49 AM
Aug 2025

I worry about my own noodle because of family history. Now, if they can turn this into a practical application........

Thanks for posting, Usonian.

ShepKat

(541 posts)
2. Lithium orotate
Sun Aug 24, 2025, 07:12 AM
Aug 2025

also helps with the downside of methylphenidate use. Decreasing the body's urge to take more

mwooldri

(10,824 posts)
3. Lithium is also used to treat bipolar.
Sun Aug 24, 2025, 07:42 AM
Aug 2025

Now I'm not a doctor but I presume there would be a blood test for lithium? And that a "normal" range is known? And that I suppose folks could ask for this blood test from their GP and if low get some kind of supplement? Nothing like the kind of doses people being treated for bipolar get of course.

Seems to be good news, and thus something that we can do to help prevent Alzheimer's.

Response to usonian (Original post)

ShepKat

(541 posts)
5. I have consumed for over 50 years
Sun Sep 7, 2025, 06:36 AM
Sep 2025

I have ehlers danlos/tnxb. Cannabis is an incredible help.

jfz9580m

(17,430 posts)
6. Sorry about that
Sun Sep 7, 2025, 06:40 AM
Sep 2025

That sound rough. I know cannabis has been a life saver for me in some ways. It really helps me deal with the stresses of life.

ShepKat

(541 posts)
7. That too :)
Sun Sep 7, 2025, 07:01 AM
Sep 2025

It's an incredible tool - nothing compares. Endocannabinoids are amazing.
Some people tend to treat it like a toy.
Everything in moderation, more is not better

jfz9580m

(17,430 posts)
8. Agree completely
Sun Sep 7, 2025, 09:02 AM
Sep 2025

While I ignore the reefer madness stuff, I do mildly worry about its effects on the heart if not used in moderation and any drug that impacts cancer signalling pathways probably cuts both ways some. That’s only a hunch though..

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