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The chances are good that you are exposed to some lithium almost every day of your life. That’s because this natural element is plentiful in nature. It is found in rocks and soil all over the earth. That means it ends up in our food and water supply. Trace amounts can be found in tomatoes, cucumbers, eggs, milk and mushrooms, to name just a few common food sources. Because levels of lithium in water are highly variable, researchers have been studying long-term exposure to this element and its impact on the brain. Is it possible that relatively small amounts of lithium could help prevent dementia?
Could Lithium Be Helpful Against Dementia?
We have been writing our syndicated newspaper column since 1978. King Features distributes it to scores of newspapers around the country. One reason that we have appreciated this opportunity is the feedback we get from readers. This website also allows people to ask questions and/or share stories in the comment section below each post. Visitors also send us email at this address: questions@peoplespharmacy.com.
Sometimes we don’t know the answers—or even if there are answers. But we often find that a search of the medical literature offers fascinating insights.
We recently received just such a question about lithium and dementia. It was short and sweet:
Q. What’s your assessment of the value of lithium to prevent dementia?
A. There have long been hints that lithium might be valuable to reduce the risk for dementia (Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry, Aug. 30, 2006). However, most research has focused on anti-amyloid drugs such as aducanumab (Aduhelm) or lecanemab (Leqembi). A systematic review turned up a number of animal studies but only a few clinical trials of lithium for preventing dementia (Ageing Research Reviews, March 2024).
Doses studied vary widely. When lithium is prescribed for bipolar disorder, doses range from 600 to 1,800 mg daily. Adverse effects may include diarrhea, muscle weakness, drowsiness, changes in thyroid function and kidney damage.
Much lower doses (10 to 20 mg of lithium orotate or citrate) have been used experimentally against depression and dementia. The risks may be reduced at such doses. Much more research is needed on this possible treatment.
Another Reader has a more detailed question about lithium:
“My late mother suffered from dementia for ten years. I helped care for her, and it was utter hell as it progressed. My sister is about to turn 70, and of course, she’s concerned about dementia.
“I have bipolar disorder, so I’ve been taking lithium to treat it for over 35 years now. A few years ago, I began seeing research on using lithium against dementia. The results from various researchers are impressive, including double-blind trials.
“I have learned that a micro-dose of lithium is all that is required, and not the usual dose necessary to treat bipolar disorder. On average, researchers found that 1.5 mg daily drastically reduced the formation of amyloid-B and plaques in the brain.
“What saddens me most is that I might have helped my mom avoid dementia entirely from my own bottle of lithium! But I didn’t stumble on the research until after she passed away in 2020.
“Now I figure that just one of my lithium tablets (300 mg) would supply my sister with nearly a year’s supply. I am tempted to order a micro scale, some gelatin capsules, and compound my own for her. She’s on a limited budget, and her doctor is not supportive at all. Although I’ve encouraged her to get a new doctor, that doesn’t seem likely.
Lithium in Water?
“Is there a form of lithium water she could drink? I’ve heard that others use it. I doubt there would be any need for blood work at such a low dose, but I would insist she get tested anyway, just to be safe.
“My apologies for sounding like Dr. Frankenstein, but I’m totally serious. I don’t want to wait several more years, then discover she’s got dementia like my mom if I could have prevented it!”
Our Answer:
We don’t know how to help your sister find a sympathetic physician. However, we agree with you that there are a number of intriguing studies hinting that low-dose lithium might be protective.
Research on Low-Dose Lithium vs. Dementia:
In one study from England, scientists found that people exposed to lithium were about 40 percent less likely to be diagnosed with dementia (PLOS Medicine, March 17, 2022). These populations were similar in other respects.
The authors conclude:
“We observed an association between lithium use and a decreased risk of developing dementia. This lends further support to the idea that lithium may be a disease-modifying treatment for dementia and that this is a promising treatment to take forwards to larger randomised controlled trials (RCTs) for this indication.”
An analysis of three trials found that all supported the results of lithium for dementia prevention (International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, July 22, 2021). Tissue culture studies hint at a possible mechanism (Scientific Reports, Dec. 4, 2019).
Basic research indicates that lithium chloride can reduce beta-amyloid toxicity in the brain (Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 2019). In addition, it helps prevent the buildup of tau found in tangles in the brain.
Microdoses of Lithium?
Could microdoses of lithium delay the development of Alzheimer’s disease? A study from Canada suggests that may indeed be the case (Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, Jan. 21, 2020). Before we share the additional research on lithium and the brain, please stay with us while we present a brief historical perspective on lithium in water.
Research on Lithium in Water:
People who drink water with higher levels of lithium may be less likely to develop dementia. That’s the conclusion of a large epidemiological study from Denmark (JAMA Psychiatry, online, Aug. 23, 2017). Investigators compared 73,731 patients with dementia to 733,653 people without dementia. The subjects ranged in age from 75 to 85 years of age.
Measuring Lithium in Water:
The researchers measured lithium in drinking water from 151 communities around the Denmark and mapped where patients and controls had lived from 1986 to through 2013. Those exposed to naturally higher levels of lithium in their drinking water were less likely to have a diagnosis of dementia.
Prior research has linked lithium treatment to better learning and memory in laboratory animals. In addition, people with bipolar disorder undergoing long-term lithium treatment appear to have a reduced risk for dementia. This study seems to confirm these previous observations.
Lithium vs. Alzheimer’s Disease:
There are currently no effective treatments against Alzheimer’s disease. But researchers at McGill University in Canada have published an intriguing rodent study that goes beyond lithium in water (Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, Jan. 21, 2020).
Previous research by this team led them to believe that a special very low dose lithium preparation (NP03) could interrupt “…early amyloid pathology stages in the Alzheimer’s-like transgenic rat” (Translational Psychiatry, Aug. 1, 2017). They concluded that:
“These findings thus suggest that NP03 reverses key AD [Alzheimer’s disease] pathologies in an in vivo AD model, and that it may have therapeutic value in the early stages of the disease.”
The Canadian research involved administering microdoses to lithium to rats bred to develop an Alzheimer’s-like brain disorder. This time, though, the brain pathology was more advanced.
This would be roughly equivalent to when amyloid plaque would be present in the brain and cognitive decline would begin to be detected. In the rodent study, the pathology was diminished and cognition improved.
Lithium vs. Bipolar Disorder, Depression and ADHD:
Over the last several years, evidence has been accumulating that low levels of lithium may be beneficial against a wide range of mental problems. If you would like to learn more about this history of lithium for what used to be called manic depression (now bipolar disorder), here is a link.
Did you know that Mineral Wells, Texas was renowned for its lithium-rich water? People found the water helpful for a variety of mental disorders. The original 7 Up soda had lithium in it. Learn all about this history of lithium here:
Rediscovering Lithium for Mood Disorders
Lithium is a mainstay for treating bipolar disorder. Side effects are scary, but could low-dose supplements be safer and more effective for mood disorders?
You will also find out about low-dose lithium in water as a potential preventive against suicide. There is also interest in low doses of this element for treating depression and possibly even ADHD. Here is a link to a free podcast about this intriguing application.
Lithium Is Not Benign:
Lithium is also found in medications. One of my early mentors was Dr. Carl Pfeiffer. He was head of the Neuropharmacology Laboratory at the NJ Neuropsychiatric Institute. He did some of the early research on the use of lithium for what was then called manic-depressive disorder.
In the high doses used to treat what is now called bipolar disorder, lithium can cause several side effects. Not only can it disrupt the digestive system (nausea, vomiting and diarrhea), it can cause an unpleasant taste in the mouth.
Weight gain is another potential problem. More worrisome is kidney damage. Kidney function must be monitored regularly! Other adverse reactions include tremor, excessive urination, thirst, fatigue, muscle weakness, drowsiness, thyroid problems and visual changes. Drug interactions are common and problematical. Anyone taking lithium must have regular pharmacy interaction reviews.
While low or microdoses of lithium are unlikely to cause such complications, anyone contemplating such a program must be under medical supervision! Regular kidney function tests are advisable.
If you have taken lithium in low or standard doses, please share your experience in the comment section below. Do you drink lithium water? What’s that like?
Pamela
This is so very important. As I read the article my thoughts are: this will never be implemented because the pharmaceutical companies want to make money!!!
David
Does 7-up still have lithium in its formulation?
Terry Graedon
No.
Sherry
For sevenal months I had woken in the morning feeling sad, unmotivated and hopeless. I started seeing a psychiatrist. Along with talk therapy, he recommended low dose lithium, starting at 5 mg. for depression. It helped somewhat. He looked at a recent blood test to make sure I don’t have any issues and raised the recommendation to 10 mg. This morning sadness has diminished. Because of a difficult childhood, I don’t wake up singing, but I feel like I can start a normal day and be productive. I buy the Pure brand of Lithium Oronate on Amazon. I’m glad he didn’t recommend prescription anti-depressants. I know they are important in medicine but I try to avoid meds when I can.
As an aside, the psychiatrist said he takes mega doses of lithium because dementia runs in his family and monitors his blood levels. He is very bright and went to a top notch edical school and has been practicitng for 40 years.
Kathleen
El Paso Texas has lithium in it’s drinking water. A study should be done there.
Ken
I’m surprised you didn’t mention heart problems in this piece. I tried low dose lithium but my heart rate dropped into the 30s and I got an occasional arrhythmia in my heartbeat so I had to quit it.
Joyce
I read the book “Nutritional Lithium: A Cinderella Story” before purchasing 10mg of Lithium Orotate caps along with the recommended fish oil caps and vitamin E with tocoppherols on Amazon. (Please read the book before making any decision.) The doctor/author recommends this type of lithium. I had been experiencing depression and a state of overwhelm which was causing severe exhaustion. I didn’t want to get put of bed. After about a month of the nutritional lithium I heard myself tell a friend “I feel like my old self again! Smart and funny!”. The small dose of daily lithium has helped me immensely and I feel good about the synaptic growth effects,too.
Kitty
I’m 74 years old and moved to El Paso, Texas in 1974. When I moved here, a lot of people talked about the high lithium content in the water. I was told that El Paso was one of the communities studied in determining that lithium could be beneficial for people with bipolar disorder. Apparently, El Paso had a much lower rate of mental illness than other communities; attributed to the lithium. All I can tell you is that I drink mostly tap water, and I’m in pretty good mental shape. I still work part time in a demanding profession, read extensively and (drumroll, please) have a 100% solving rate at Wordle. Pretty good for a four-time cancer survivor.
Bird
I have taken 5 mg Lithium orotate for 5-6 years to reduce or prevent cluster headaches. I’m to the point now where I can often take 1, 5 mg Zomig with aspirin and Excedrin and kill the headache. Further, I have far fewer cluster headaches, and yes, mentally I’m in a much better place. As far as I can see, the stuff works, and while there’s no history of dementia in our family (other than my grandmother who was in her late 90s when she began to show signs of it), I’d rather end up in a wheelchair than have dementia.
Susan
Lithia Creek in Ashland, OR is very high in lithium as well.
Susan
When you speak of micro dosing with Lithium, how small a dose are you suggesting as being helpful before being harmful? I have one male friend who takes 20 mgs. daily in two divided doses and another friend, female who takes 10 mgs. once daily in the morning. Are both within an established safe range for long term consumption? And has this ever been established? Thank you for your answer.
Joe Graedon
Susan,
We desperately need more and better research to answer your thoughtful questions. Ideally, there would be a large, randomized controlled trial with a placebo arm over a long period of time. The problem is that no pharmaceutical company seems interested since lithium is “off patent.” This will require government-sponsored research or some charitable organization to finance the study!
Bart
I’ve been taking Advance Research Lithium Orotate for years. I take 1/2 tablet per day which equates to about 2.5 mg of elemental lithium in 50 mg of lithoim orotate. I have not experienced any side effects, except a more stable mood. Thank you. BW
BW
Fairfield, IA
K D
Check out the website for crazy water mineral Wells Texas. It’s a water that’s high in lithium. I get 12 bottles delivered about every three months. It also has a magnesium contact which helps keep things moving if you know what I mean.
Kim
I’m 64, and after reading research on lithium and both dementia- and suicide prevention, started taking about 1 mg/day as a supplement. I get it in 1000 mcg (1 mg) caps from Life Extension, the only one I found offering such low dose caps. I can’t speak to perceived cognitive improvement, but do feel like I get a little mood boost and that it may be helping my neuropathy. And hoping it might be preventing other problems before I experience them!
Bruno
I’m confused by you posting this article , you also recently posted an article explaining that reduction of tau or amyloid material in the brain; did not reduce or reverse dementia.
Sylvia
I’ve been taking 300 mg of Lithium Carbonate for 34 years. I get blood tests once a year and my Lithium level is below therapeutic at .3 but psych says it’s ok.
All my blood tests are at good levels. In fact, I try to donate blood once a year or more.
I have been diagnosed with manic-depression. Now called bipolar. I lean toward manic. Lithium keeps me balanced;
The few times I’ve quit taking it, I become paranoid. I am now 79 years old and other than being a bit overweight(20 pounds), I’m in good health and participate in Bible studies and prayer groups. I need to exercise more as have trouble w stairs.
JOAN
I have been taking low-dose lithium for over two years in the supplement from life extension located in Fort Lauderdale Florida. My mother had dementia. I am 82 years old and seem to be doing OK compared to my peers and will keep taking it. I also take a couple other supplements, such as P S, and Preva gin
Joan. A.
Kim
After reviewing a correlation between low dose lithium and lowered incidences of dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease, my husband and I (both of us are in our 60s) started taking 5mg of OTC lithium orotate daily. Although it could be a placebo effect, our memory recall is much improved and our moods are calmer. We notice a difference if we fail to take it for a few days. We have shared our remarkable improvement with several friends, who have experienced the same results with 5 mg daily dosages.
Jerry C
I have no knowledge whether or not lithium has any effects on kidneys, but it certainly is a very general precaution not to hurt one’s kidneys. At older ages kidneys are especially vulnerable, but damaging kidneys should be avoided at any age.
Judy
I started taking low-dose lithium two years ago at age 73 when I read that it might prevent dementia. I got lithium orotate in 5 mg pills from Amazon. It may be too early to tell about the dementia, but I found other good effects. I had had chronic fatigue for a year and a half, but three days after taking just 5mg a day the fatigue disappeared.
I was pretty stunned at that and experimented with higher doses to see whether my energy would increase further. I ended up at 20 mg, still a low dose, and have been taking it ever since. My husband was having frustrating health problems and got upset frequently. He started taking 25 mg of lithium and got much calmer. This mineral is like a miracle to me.
Nancy
VA
Due to taking an apparently too high dose of lithium for many years, to treat bi-polar disorder, my brother now has badly damaged kidneys. While it helped his bipolar disorder tremendously, the effects on his body should have been monitored closely, and the dosage should have been as low as possible.
John
Croydon, PA
Would water filters remove lithium along with contaminants?
Rhonda
Los Angeles
I just checked the list of contaminants that my refrigerator water filter removes, and lithium is NOT listed. I was alarmed when I heard on the radio yesterday that unexpectedly high levels of lithium have recently been found in Los Angeles drinking water. The report also said that it is feared that this might contribute to Alzheimers. Since there are some articles indicating that lithium might help PREVENT dementia, I’m confused. More research will need to be done. I drink a combination of artesian water and filtered municipal water. It’s very hard to eliminate all municipal water from one’s diet.
Art D
Texas
Ref: Can Lithium in Water Supply Prevent Dementia?:
Is lithium sold as an OTC supplement? Would it have to be prescribed be your physician? What would be the dosage?
Karen
Texas
San Pelligrino mineral water has natural lithium. I have been drinking it daily for well over a year, and I feel calmer and less anxious. Plus, it’s delicious!Karen
Gail
Nj
We have a son with mental illness and 30 years ago I read somewhere that Colorado has the least amt of mentally ill due to the high content of lithium in the water.
Luke
The only cure for Alzheimer’s disease is death. Nothing will fix or prevent it.