Researchers at the University of Cambridge have found a lower risk of dementia in patients using lithium.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 10 million people develop dementia every year. It is a leading cause of death and disability in elderly Western populations. The syndrome can result from a variety of diseases such as Alzheimer’s, and even air pollution. As its incidence increases, health officials are on the lookout for preventative treatments that can delay disease development and likely reduce disease burden. According to a recently published study, lithium might possibly help prevent dementia.
The number of people with dementia continues to grow, which puts huge pressure on healthcare systems. It’s been estimated that delaying the onset of dementia by just five years could reduce its prevalence and economic impact by as much as 40 percent.
Dr. Shanquan Chen, study author
Lithium commonly helps treat bipolar disorder and depression. Previous studies have proposed the mood stabilizer as a potential treatment for dementia. However, limited population-level data is available on lithium’s effect. Therefore, researchers at the University of Cambridge conducted a retrospective study comparing patients treated at mental health services across the UK. None of the patients had a history of dementia or cognitive decline.
More than 55 million People Live with Dementia Worldwide
The study identified a total of 29,618 patients, out of which only 548 had received lithium. 40% of these were men and had a mean age of 70 years. Approximately 9% of the lithium group went on to develop dementia, whereas 11% of the non-lithium group developed dementia. The researchers noted similar results even after controlling for factors such as medications, smoking, and physical and mental illnesses.
This is the first study to examine the link between lithium and dementia. Moreover, researchers also examined other dementia subtypes and the duration of treatment. However, the study has a few limitations. First, the number of patients receiving lithium was much smaller. Secondly, the study had a high number of patients with bipolar disorder. The mood disorder is associated with an increased risk of dementia; although, the study showed opposite results.
For now, further research is required on lithium’s role in reducing the risk of dementia and how it brings about the desired result.
Reference:
Association between lithium use and the incidence of dementia and its subtypes: A retrospective cohort study, PLoS Medicine (2022). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003941
