Understanding Lithium

Good morning!

If you’ve been on social media lately, you’ve probably noticed lithium making headlines. It’s a mineral that used to fly under the radar but is now being talked about for its potential link to brain health and Alzheimer’s prevention.

There’s a lot of noise out there, so let’s break down what the science actually says, what it doesn’t, and what it could mean for you.

Key Takeaways

• A recent paper published by Harvard links low lithium with accelerated cognitive decline and Alzheimer's Disease (AD).

• The lead scientist Dr. Bruce Yankner discovered that giving lithium orotate to mice with Alzheimer's slowed down memory loss.

• Correlation does not equal causation, meaning the link between lithium and AD prevention still requires future human clinical trials to be proven.

CORE

Why The Sudden Interest?

The buzz really took off after that Harvard paper in August, titled “Could Lithium Explain — and Treat — Alzheimer’s Disease?” ¹ 

Harvard researchers found that:

• Brains of Alzheimer’s patients contained much less lithium than healthy ones.²

• Those lower levels seemed to worsen brain inflammation and speed up neuron loss.³

• Lithium appeared to inactivate an enzyme called GSK3β, which otherwise accelerates the formation of amyloid plaques (the sticky clusters often seen in Alzheimer’s brains).

When mice with Alzheimer’s were given small doses of lithium orotate, their memory improved and disease progression slowed.

In short: people and animals with lower lithium levels seem to experience faster brain aging, while restoring lithium, at least in lab studies, helps preserve cognition.

But Isn’t Lithium Toxic?

This has probably been on your mind since you opened this email. Lithium? The stuff in batteries, yeah no thanks.

You’ll be thankful to hear that that lithium is a metal, the one that’s in the food you eat or the supplements you take, that’s lithium salt. Big difference.

That said, like anything really, lithium is toxic at high doses. Rest assured, the trace amounts found in foods and supplements are far, far below any harmful amounts.

What’s more, at these safe levels, lithium can support normal cellular and brain function without risk. So unless you’re planning on chewing on a piece of lithium metal, you’ll be more than alright.

We’ll Have to Wait and See

The Harvard study thus far has been able to identify a negative correlation, which means that more lithium (within the healthy established range) leads to lower rates of memory loss and vice versa. But correlation isn’t causation.

Think of it this way. When ice cream sales increase people buy less hand warmers. Does this mean that one caused the other? Nope, it’s just that when it’s hot out people buy more ice cream and don’t have a need for hand warmers.

It’s a silly example, but I hope that it can illustrate how sometimes these apparent truths still have a long way to go. Not to mention we humans are a heck of a lot more complicated (and different) than a mouse. So until more research is done, it’s still far from “proven” that we should all be taking lithium for Alzheimer's prevention.

PRODUCT MENTION

Lithium is just one piece of an incredibly complex puzzle. The brain depends on dozens of minerals and antioxidants working together, not one in isolation.

Nutrients like:

• Zinc, which supports neurotransmission and protects neurons from oxidative damage.

• Selenium, which regulates oxidative stress and keeps your body’s antioxidant defenses sharp.

All of these play overlapping roles in protecting the brain’s structure and function.

You can find these and over 70+ bioavailable trace minerals in OceanElements, a complete mineral and electrolyte blend

ENDNOTE

Final Thoughts

Lithium’s comeback is fascinating, and early research is encouraging. But while it might one day play a role in protecting against neurodegenerative disease, the science isn’t settled yet.

If you’re curious about trace minerals and brain health, the best first step is simply restoring overall mineral balance safely, naturally, and consistently.

Until next week!

Adrian Macdonald | Team Dietitian | The 8% Newsletter Author