Lithium’s Surprising Effect on Alzheimer’s

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Scientists have identified new ways lithium chloride may interact with Alzheimer’s disease mechanisms at the cellular level.

A new study from the University of Eastern Finland (UEF) suggests lithium chloride may influence several cellular processes linked to Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia. One of its key features is the abnormal phosphorylation and buildup of Tau proteins inside brain cells, along with the accumulation of β-amyloid (Aβ) plaques.

Researchers have previously used lithium salts, especially lithium chloride and lithium carbonate, in cell and animal models of AD to reduce Tau hyperphosphorylation and aggregation. However, human clinical trials have produced inconsistent results, with some studies showing little or no improvement in cognitive function.

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Traumatic brain injury and Alzheimer’s disease

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Traumatic brain injury (TBI) represents a major global health burden, affecting an estimated 69 million people annually. The greatest burden of TBI-related injury is observed in older adults, largely arising from falls. Contact sports, road traffic accidents, and interpersonal violence are also major contributors to TBI across ages and populations.

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A ‘Youthful’ Brain May Boost Alzheimer’s Resilience

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Key Takeaways

  • Preserved global brain structure appeared to buffer cognitive decline in people with Alzheimer’s pathology.
  • Younger-appearing brains had weaker links between pathology and poorer outcomes in multiple cognitive domains.
  • Other measures of brain reserve or cognitive reserve showed no clear protective cognitive effect.

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CSU grad student turns complex Alzheimer’s research into award-winning 3-minute talk

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Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, according to the National Institutes of Health. At Colorado State University, master’s student David Crosby has earned first place at the university, state and regional levels of the Three Minute Thesis competition, or 3MT, for explaining his research on why this brain disorder causes people to lose their ability to think, remember and reason.

He asked the audience to imagine living in a house where decades of trash has accumulated.

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