Harvard Study Hints at Lithium’s Role in Alzheimer’s Fight
Long Island Experts See Glimmer of Hope Amidst Cautionary Notes
A new Harvard Medical School study linking the loss of the metal lithium to Alzheimer’s disease is igniting cautious optimism among Long Island advocates, who emphasize the urgent need for scientific breakthroughs in the field. The seven-year investigation suggests potential new avenues for earlier disease detection and novel treatment strategies.
A Beacon of Hope
Tori Cohen, executive director of the Long Island Alzheimer’s and Dementia Center, described the research as “the most hopeful thing that we’ve had in a while.” She urged swift action, stating, “This type of information … I feel should be jumped on.”
Echoing this sentiment, Lauren Vlachos, executive director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Resource Center, called the finding “an exciting moment in Alzheimer’s research.” She specifically highlighted the Harvard study’s indication that lithium orotate might reverse Alzheimer’s-like changes in mice.
“The recent Harvard study showing lithium orotate reversing Alzheimer’s-like changes in mice is a major breakthrough, offering renewed hope for treatment and even prevention.”
—Lauren Vlachos, Executive Director, Alzheimer’s Disease Resource Center
Vlachos stressed the importance of continued research funding and the critical need to translate these discoveries into human clinical trials. “Discovery is only part of the equation,” she remarked.
Expert Cautionary Tone
However, a prominent Long Island neurologist advised restraint, cautioning that the study is preliminary and should not prompt immediate self-medication with lithium. Dr. Marc Gordon, chief of neurology for Northwell’s Zucker Hillside, North Shore University Hospital, and Long Island Jewish Medical Center, expressed concern about potential misinterpretations.
“I’m concerned that people are going to completely misinterpret it and think that they’ve got to start popping lithium carbonate and get toxic.”
—Dr. Marc Gordon, Chief of Neurology, Northwell Health
The research, spearheaded by Dr. Bruce A. Yankner, a professor at Harvard Medical School, successfully reversed Alzheimer’s symptoms and restored brain function in mice using small doses of lithium orotate, a compound found to mimic the metal’s natural brain levels.
The groundbreaking results were published in the scientific journal *Nature*. Matt Kaeberlein, former director of the Healthy Aging and Longevity Research Institute at the University of Washington, who was not involved in the study, told The Washington Post that the affordability of lithium orotate should expedite rigorous clinical trials.
“The obvious impact is that because lithium orotate is dirt cheap, hopefully we will get rigorous, randomized trials testing this very, very quickly. And I would say that it will be an embarrassment to the Alzheimer’s clinical community if that doesn’t happen right away.”
—Matt Kaeberlein, Former Director, Healthy Aging and Longevity Research Institute, University of Washington
Dr. Yankner himself advised against immediate self-treatment with lithium, emphasizing the need for human validation. “We always have to be cautious because things can change as you go from mice to humans,” he told The Post, adding that other laboratories must replicate the findings.
Understanding Alzheimer’s and Lithium’s Potential
Cohen acknowledged that animal studies do not preclude human application, stating that the findings “doesn’t mean that it can’t be … taken seriously.”
Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive form of dementia affecting memory, thinking, and behavior, impacts millions. In the United States, over 7 million individuals aged 65 and older live with the condition, with projections indicating a near doubling by 2050, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. While recent treatment advances have been made, a cure or reversal remains elusive.
Lithium is already prescribed for bipolar disorder, and previous research has explored its potential benefits for Alzheimer’s and aging. A 2017 Danish study suggested a correlation between lithium levels in drinking water and a lower incidence of dementia.
The number of Americans aged 65 and older living with Alzheimer’s disease is projected to reach nearly 13 million by 2050, highlighting the critical need for new therapeutic strategies (Alzheimer’s Association, 2024).
