Articles / Can lithium prevent dementia?
writer
Scientia Professor of Neuropsychiatry, Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), School of Psychiatry, UNSW
When people think of lithium, it’s usually to do with batteries, but lithium also has a long history in medicine. Lithium carbonate, or lithium salt, is mainly used to treat and prevent bipolar disorder. This is a condition in which a person experiences significant mood swings from highs that can tip into mania to lows that can plunge into depression.
More recently, though, lithium has been explored as a potential preventive therapy for dementia. A recent paper even led some to question whether we should start putting lithium in drinking water to lower population dementia rates.
But despite early studies linking lithium to better cognitive function, there is currently not enough evidence to start using it as a preventive dementia strategy.
TIAs and Carotid Stenosis
Low libido - What is it & How is it Managed?
Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders in Infants – Practical Advice for HCPs
Using the New RSV Vaccine in Practice
writer
Scientia Professor of Neuropsychiatry, Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), School of Psychiatry, UNSW
Strongly support
Somewhat support
Neither support nor oppose
Somewhat oppose
Strongly oppose
Listen to expert interviews.
Click to open in a new tab
Browse the latest articles from Healthed.
You have completed the Educational Activities component of this resource.
Select ‘Confirm & claim CPD‘ to confirm you have engaged with this resource in its entirety and claim your CPD.
You will be taken to explore further CPD learning available to you.