• While exact percentages are hard to pin down, some observational studies have suggested communities with higher levels of lithium in their water supply have lower rates of suicide and possibly dementia.
• Mood Stabilization: Lithium in prescription forms (like lithium carbonate) is a gold standard for the treatment of bipolar disorder. Some anecdotal reports suggest that lithium orotate might be beneficial for mood stabilization, though robust clinical trials are lacking.
• Neuroprotective Effects: Some studies suggest that lithium can promote neuronal health. This has been observed in the context of conditions like Alzheimer's disease, where lithium treatment in some small studies seemed to slow the progression of cognitive decline.
• Anti-inflammatory Effects: There's evidence that lithium can exert anti-inflammatory effects in the brain, potentially protecting against neurodegenerative diseases.
• Suicidal Behavior: Clinical forms of lithium have been associated with reduced suicidality in bipolar patients. Some areas with higher natural lithium levels in the drinking water have been associated with lower rates of suicide, though it's important to approach this observation cautiously.
• Longevity: There are a few studies suggesting that populations exposed to higher levels of lithium from natural sources (like water) might have slightly increased lifespan. However, the exact role of lithium in this observation remains speculative.

Lithium orotate is a salt of orotic acid and lithium, and is widely known for its therapeutic effects on the brain, particularly in the treatment of bipolar disorder and depression. However, recent research has shown that this mineral can also play a role in anti-aging.

Lithium orotate is believed to contribute to brain defense, healthy aging and mood stabilization.1-6 One of the major molecular targets of lithium is GSK3-beta, an enzyme that is associated with cellular aging in the kidney. By inhibiting the activity of GSK3-beta, lithium can help to protect against age-related damage and improve overall health.2

In addition to its effects on cellular aging, lithium is also associated with a lower risk of receiving a diagnosis of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VD).7,8

A study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry investigated if lithium treatment can help people with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a condition that can lead to Alzheimer's disease. 61 older adults with MCI were given either lithium or a placebo for 2 years, and then followed up for another 2 years. The researchers measured their cognitive and functional abilities and looked at other factors like biomarkers in their cerebrospinal fluid. The results showed that the people who received the placebo had a decline in their abilities, but the people who received lithium stayed stable over the 2 years. After 2 years, the people who received lithium performed better on memory and attention tests. This study suggests that lithium might be helpful for people with MCI and Alzheimer's disease.7

Another study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s disease looked to see if lithium could help people with Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The authors found that people who took lithium had better cognitive performance than those who took a placebo. This means that they did better on tests that measured their memory and thinking skills. Overall, the scientists think that lithium might be a helpful treatment for people with Alzheimer's disease or MCI.8

Lithium orotate has also been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects, which can contribute to healthy aging.9,10 Chronic inflammation is a major contributor to age-related diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and cardiovascular disease. By reducing inflammation, lithium can help to protect against these diseases and promote healthy aging. For example, a study found that there is a potential anti-inflammatory effect of lithium in individuals with bipolar disorder (BD). There was a significant negative correlation between the duration of lithium treatment and levels of hsCRP, which is a marker of inflammation. This suggests that longer-term use of lithium may be associated with lower levels of inflammation.10

While the exact mechanisms behind lithium's anti-aging effects are not yet fully understood, there are several theories.2 One theory is that lithium may increase the expression of certain genes that are involved in longevity, such as SIRT1 and FOXO3A.11,12 These genes are known to be involved in cellular repair and maintenance, and their increased expression has been associated with increased lifespan in animal studies.

Another theory is that lithium may improve mitochondrial function, which can also contribute to healthy aging.13,14 Mitochondria are the powerhouses of the cell, and their dysfunction is associated with a wide range of age-related diseases. By improving mitochondrial function, lithium can help to protect against these diseases and promote healthy aging.

While more research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms behind lithium's anti-aging effects, the existing research suggests that this mineral may hold promise as a potential anti-aging therapy. Its effects on cellular aging, cognitive function, inflammation, and mitochondrial function make it an intriguing target for future research.

In conclusion, lithium orotate is a mineral that has long been known for its therapeutic effects on the brain, but recent research suggests that it may also play a role in anti-aging. Its effects on cellular aging, cognitive function, inflammation, and mitochondrial function make it an intriguing target for future research.

‍

1. Marshall TM. Lithium as a nutrient. J Am Physicians Surgeons. 2015; 20(4):104–109.
2. Jope RS, Nemeroff CB. Lithium to the rescue. Cerebrum. 2016;Jan-Feb:cer-02–16.
3. Castillo-Quan JI, Li L, Kinghorn KJ, et al. Lithium Promotes Longevity through GSK3/NRF2-Dependent Hormesis. Cell Rep. 2016 Apr 19;15(3):638-50.
4. Saraswati AP, Ali Hussaini SM, Krishna NH, et al. Glycogen synthase kinase-3 and its inhibitors: Potential target for various therapeutic conditions. Eur J Med Chem. 2018 Jan 20;144:843-58.
5. Won E, Kim YK. An Oldie but Goodie: Lithium in the Treatment of Bipolar Disorder through Neuroprotective and Neurotrophic Mechanisms. Int J Mol Sci. 2017 Dec 11;18(12).
6. Cipriani A, Pretty H, Hawton K, et al. Lithium in the prevention of suicidal behavior and all-cause mortality in patients with mood disorders: a systematic review of randomized trials. Am J Psychiatry. 2005 Oct;162(10):1805-19.
7. Forlenza OV, Radanovic M, Talib LL, Gattaz WF. Clinical and biological effects of long-term lithium treatment in older adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment: randomised clinical trial. Br J Psychiatry. 2019.
8. Matsunaga S, Kishi T, Annas P, Basun H, Hampel H, Iwata N. Lithium as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Alzheimer's disease. 2015 Jan 1;48(2):403-10.
9. Nassar A, Azab AN. Effects of lithium on inflammation. ACS chemical neuroscience. 2014 Jun 18;5(6):451-8.
10. Queissner R, Lenger M, Birner A, Dalkner N, Fellendorf F, Bengesser S, Platzer M, Hamm C, Maget A, Reininghaus B, Ratzenhofer M. The association between anti-inflammatory effects of long-term lithium treatment and illness course in Bipolar Disorder. Journal of Affective Disorders. 2021 Feb 15;281:228-34.
11. Kong H, Wang H, Zhuo Z, Li Z, Tian P, Wu J, Liu J, Chen Z, Zhang J, Luo Q. Inhibition of miR-181a-5p reduces astrocyte and microglia activation and oxidative stress by activating SIRT1 in immature rats with epilepsy. Laboratory Investigation. 2020 Sep;100(9):1223-37.
12. Chen B, Zhang M, Ji M, Zhang D, Chen B, Gong W, Li X, Zhou Y, Dong C, Wen G, Zhan X. The neuroprotective mechanism of lithium after ischaemic stroke. Communications Biology. 2022 Feb 3;5(1):105.
13. Singulani MP, De Paula VJ, Forlenza OV. Mini review: Mitochondrial dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease: Therapeutic implications of lithium. Neuroscience Letters. 2021 Aug 24;760:136078.
14. Osete JR, Akkouh IA, de Assis DR, Szabo A, Frei E, Hughes T, Smeland OB, Steen NE, Andreassen OA, Djurovic S. Lithium increases mitochondrial respiration in iPSC-derived neural precursor cells from lithium responders. Molecular Psychiatry. 2021 Nov;26(11):6789-805.