Study: Lithium Appears to Halt Formation of Alzheimer's Plaques

A drug better known for treating bipolar disorder may also be able to protect against Alzheimer's disease.

In experiments on mice, researchers found that lithium appears to halt the production of beta amyloid or the small peptides that in excessive amounts clump together to form plaques that cause neurons in the brain to die.

However, lead researcher Dr. Peter Klein, of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, said lithium's propensity to cause side effects could limit its use in older people who are more susceptible to Alzheimer's disease.

Therefore, Klein said it would be worth developing other drugs to mimic the effect of lithium in protecting against Alzheimer's.

Until then, Klein said lithium could be considered for the prevention of Alzheimer's disease, "especially in younger patients with an inherited form of Alzheimer's disease or Down's syndrome."

Noting previous studies showing that certain non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may also reduce beta amyloid levels, the researchers suggested that combination therapy with lithium and NSAIDs could also one day protect humans against Alzheimer's.

Other sources: National Institute of Mental Health