Why lithium might hold the key to staying sharper for longer

Could lithium, the metal that powers our smartphones, fortify our brains against Alzheimer’s disease? That’s the hope that’s been raised by ground-breaking research from Harvard Medical School.

The study suggests that the metal, a key component of many batteries, protects the brain against Alzheimer’s disease, and that topping up levels can undo damage and crucially, restore memory. The scientists also suspect that a drop in levels of lithium is an early warning sign of Alzheimer’s.

Together, the findings raise the tantalising possibility of testing people’s levels of the metal as they get older. Those deemed to be at high risk of Alzheimer’s disease could then be given a lithium-based treatment to delay, or even prevent dementia. As researcher Bruce Yankner, of Harvard Medical School puts it, the hope is that lithium will reverse cognitive decline and improve patients’ lives.

So, why lithium?

Professor Yankner’s team measured levels of almost 30 different metals in the brains of approximately 300 people after they had died. Some of the tissue came from people with Alzheimer’s disease or mild cognitive impairment – memory lapses that can be an early sign of dementia. They found that lithium stood out. Levels were lower in people with mild cognitive impairment and lower still in those with Alzheimer’s, reports Nature.

Phil Haydon, one of Brain Health Network’s academic advisors, was particularly impressed by the way lithium, which is found in some vegetables and can be in drinking water too, mended multiple types of damage.

“It is a big breakthrough,” said Professor Haydon. “It’s as if they’ve found a new key to Alzheimer’s, one that unlocks a door which leads to many different rooms, rather than existing drugs, which unlock the door to just one room.”

Of course, the work is still at an early stage and it is too early to take lithium to ward off Alzheimer’s. However, lithium has been linked to lower levels of dementia in people in the past. One of the best examples is a study of hundreds of thousands of people in Denmark which found that those with higher levels of lithium in their tap water were less likely to develop dementia.

But some other studies have failed to make the same connection, and large-scale trials are needed to prove that the treatment works in people and that it is safe. Researchers would also need to work out the best dose for people to take. One trial is already planned. It will look at whether giving people low doses of lithium for several years stops them from developing mild cognitive impairment.

So, what can you do now to keep your brain as healthy as possible? While Brain Health Network doesn’t recommend taking lithium supplements, we all naturally get some lithium from our diet. The amounts are small and vary depending on how mineral-rich the soil is but sources of the metal include potatoes, tomatoes, cabbage, nuts and grains, as well as drinking water and some bottled water.

There are lots of other things you can do, too, to help you stay sharp, feel good and reduce your risk of neurodegeneration.

“Sleep well, reduce your intake of red meat and your alcohol consumption and eat more of a Mediterranean-type diet,” says Professor Haydon. “Remember to exercise and to keep your mind active, too.” You can find more details about these approaches on our website, here.

The list doesn’t end there. Professor Ashley Bush, a neuroscientist at the University of Melbourne, also advises keeping an eye on blood pressure, stopping smoking and controlling diabetes – all of which you can read more about in our Healthy Life pillar.

Lastly, as Professor James Goodwin, Director of Research Impact at Brain Health Network says, “It is never too late (or too early) to start looking after your brain health”.

Don’t Wait for the Next Breakthrough
Lithium research is exciting, but protecting your brain starts with simple, proven daily habits right now (Exercise, Sleep, Diet, and more). Download our FREE eBook, The Brain Health Method, and get the complete, six-pillar roadmap used by experts to stay sharp for life.