Brain and Whole-Body Effects of Lithium

In population studies, trace levels of lithium in drinking water correlate with enhanced longevity.¹

One study found that long-term lithium exposure from drinking water may be associated with a lower risk of being diagnosed with dementia.²

In observational studies, lithium use was associated with decreased dementia risk,^3-5 and cognitive performance in people with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's dementia.^6,7

A growing number of scientists believe that small, trace doses of lithium may have a wide-ranging impact on health and should be considered an essential micronutrient.^8-10

What is Lithium?

Lithium is a mineral that is found in some natural water sources and in small amounts in some foods, including tomatoes, potatoes, and cabbage.⁸

People have made pilgrimages to lithium-rich mineral springs throughout history.¹¹ Drinking from these waters was considered a tonic to support mood and overall health.

While high doses of lithium have long been used to treat bipolar disorder and other psychiatric illnesses,^11-13 trace amounts of lithium in drinking water are associated with a wide range of benefits throughout the body.^14,15

Current literature shows that low-dose lithium may be supportive of cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, metabolic, and cognitive functions of the aging body.⁹

The evidence supporting lithium's importance is so strong that some scientists now propose that it may be an essential micronutrient.^8-10,14 Essential micronutrients are required for normal and healthy–not to mention optimal – function. This would mean it must be consumed in the diet or through direct oral intake and is required for normal bodily function.

How It Works

Lithium serves many distinct functions throughout the body.⁹

Its greatest benefits may result from its ability to inhibit an enzyme known as glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3).^9,12

GSK-3 controls several essential functions in cells, but excessive GSK-3 activity has been linked in preclinical settings to aging and metabolic disorders.¹⁶

Clinical and preclinical evidence suggest that GSK-3 activity is poorly regulated in Mild Cognitive Impairment, Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases.^12,17 There is additional evidence that implicates GSK-3 in other common conditions.^12,17

In animal model studies, GSK-3 is involved in the production of beta-amyloid and hyperphosphorylated tau in the brain. These two abnormal protein accumulations are involved in the development and progression of Alzheimer's disease.¹²

By inhibiting GSK-3, low-dose lithium acts as a neuroprotectant, potentially shielding the brain from neurodegenerative disease.¹⁸

It also increases levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a signaling compound that is required for the survival and optimal function of brain cells.^9,19

Implications for Chronic Diseases

Although lithium is most recognized for its effects on mental health, its actions on GSK-3 and other regulatory proteins impact health body-wide.

Epidemiological studies from around the world have evaluated the impact of varying intakes of lithium through drinking water^.9,12

Many of these studies have found that in places with more lithium present in the water, there are lower rates of several negative outcomes.

Specifically, higher lithium intake was associated with lower rates of:⁹

• Hospital admissions and deaths related to mental illness,
• Metabolic diseases, including obesity and diabetes,
• Death due to cardiovascular disease,
• Death due to Alzheimer's disease, and
• Death due to any cause.

Experimental data demonstrate several other benefits to lithium intake, including:^9,12

• Improved heart and blood vessel function,
• Improved muscle and bone health,
• Reduced inflammation, and
• Antiviral effects.

Lithium may also improve general metabolism throughout the body.

Some epidemiologic evidence has shown that trace amounts of lithium in tap water are associated with a reduced prevalence of obesity.

Evidence from rodent models has shown that low-dose lithium may prevent diet-induced obesity, including to a similar degree as exercise training. Both clinical and animal models suggest that lithium can enhance insulin function and improve glucose control.

However, various lines of animal models and clinical evidence are inconsistent on this topic, so more research is needed.⁹

Brain Benefits

Pre-clinical and clinical studies of low-dose lithium have evaluated its use in preventing or managing age-related brain dysfunction, including mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease.

These studies have shown a number of improvements in brain function, including:

• Improved or maintained cognitive function compared to deterioration in a placebo group,^7,15
• Improved or maintained cognitive function in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's patients ^6,20 and
• Reduced abnormal protein accumulations in the brain.^7,21

In one clinical study, taking just 300 mcg of lithium daily was found to decrease cognitive decline in patients with Alzheimer's disease, compared to a placebo.¹⁵

A review of four clinical studies published in 2022 compared lithium use to aducanumab, a new drug recently approved for the treatment of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease.²²

This review found that lithium was significantly more effective than the expensive drug aducanumab in improving cognitive function scores in patients with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's disease.

However, this was a small, pooled analysis of four studies, none of which directly compared lithium to aducanumab directly (two studies compared lithium to placebo, and two studies compared aducanumab to placebo), so formal studies are needed before any firm conclusions can be reached as to direct comparative effectiveness in this context.

These studies add to the growing body of evidence that low-dose lithium intake is necessary for optimum health.

Summary

Intake of the mineral lithium has been linked to lower rates of many chronic health problems, including cognitive decline, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and diabetes, along with lower rates of death from any cause.

In clinical studies, low-dose lithium helps improve cognitive function scores in patients with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's disease.

Growing numbers of scientists believe low-dose lithium intake can help improve health and stave off chronic disease.

If you have any questions on the scientific content of this article, please call a Life Extension Wellness Specialist at 1-866-864-3027.

References

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