Does lithium work for memory loss? Experts answer 4 key questions

Could a decades-old treatment for bipolar disorder be the key to slowing memory loss that comes with age? Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh think so.

Led by Ariel Gildengers , professor of psychiatry at Pitt and a geriatric psychiatrist at UPMC , the researchers launched a 2-year exploratory clinical trial to investigate the effects of low-dose oral lithium on older adults (ages 60+) with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Lithium is a mood stabilizer and gold-standard long-term treatment for bipolar disorder that helps manage episodes of acute mania and depression , and reduces suicide risk.

The doses used in this study, however, were very small doses — much lower than those used for bipolar disorder. Among 80 participants, those who received a daily low-dose lithium carbonate showed a slower rate of decline in verbal memory, the ability to remember and recall words and sentences, compared to those who were on a placebo.

The fact that such low doses of lithium were safe and well-tolerated makes these findings encouraging — smaller doses may confer cognitive benefits with fewer side effects.