New intel re Lithium Orotate

Posted by pb50 @pb50, Dec 31, 2025

I have discussed previously that I have mild cognitive dysfunction and after two rounds of neuropsych testing over two years and Lab & imaging testing confirming my clinical profile, I am taking Lithium Orotate as a nutritional supplement. But I consume professional intel on studies religiously. Like this one.
https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/lecanemab-or-lithium-compare-benefits-risks-and-dose
The key question that stood out to me which the physician author (Dr Phelps) asks in his review of studies is below. I highly emcourage reading this. You have to follow some links and jump back and forth a bit but make the effort. For those of you fond of calculating elemental lithium there is a section on calculating equivalent dosing to the mice study.

“Brain lithium prevents amyloid plaque formation and phosphorylation of tau proteins. In the process of AD dementia, lithium is sequestered in plaques, creating a positive feedback loop: more plaque, less lithium, leading to more plaque, and so on. Giving lithium orotate to young adult mice almost completely prevented plaque formation and tau phosphorylation. Starting lithium orotate after plaques and phosphorylated tau have already formed almost completely reversed the expected cognitive impairment. Lithium carbonate is far less effective. If all this were true in humans, lithium orotate would be an obvious treatment both to prevent AD dementia and to treat it once detected.

Of course, skeptics’ first response has been “these are mouse data.” Aron et al point out that lithium levels in human and mouse brains are comparable, supporting the relevance of mouse models for studying the biological effects of lithium. Skeptics, including a prominent neurologist following a national presentation on AD treatment, have said that we should wait for a randomized trial of lithium orotate in humans (personal communication, August 2025). But the recent lithium carbonate randomized trial took 8 years to mount and complete. What shall we suggest to patients and families for the next 8 years?

A healthy lifestyle—including a Mediterranean-like diet, regular physical activity, and avoidance of smoking, excessive alcohol, social isolation, sleep disorders, and hearing loss—is an important means of preserving cognitive function in people at risk of developing dementia.

The subsequent article will compare lecanemab and lithium’s benefits, risks, and costs. With ApoE genotyping and the new pTau/amyloid blood test, patients and families need help now deciding between treatment alternatives.”

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Aging Well Support Group.

naturelyn | @naturelyn | Feb 2 5:02pm

In reply to @raebaby "@nat59 5mg once each night" + (show)

@raebaby
Interesting. Thanks for the information!

emk507 | @emk507 | Feb 7 4:28pm

I too have been interested in taking lithium orotate prophylactically. However, I take an ARB for high blood pressure ( valsartan hydrochlorothiazide) and both elements ( the ARB and the diuretic) are listed as increasing lithium retention in the kidneys and hence adding in lithium orotate could lead to potentially toxic lithium blood serum levels. Will still follow up on this with my doctor!

pb50 | @pb50 | Feb 8 8:09am

In reply to @longboat1 "That's a great report about Lithium Orotate. Thanks for posting it. My LO, age 82, was..." + (show)

@longboat1 - I apologize because I intended to follow up and ask how your visit to the neurologist in Charlotte went for your loved one? Any new insights for treatment?

pb50 | @pb50 | Feb 12 4:02pm

It seems to me that some of the comments are out of sequence now. Not sure how that could occur but if it feels like you are reading an answer before the question was posed, you may be. 🙂

pb50 | @pb50 | Feb 13 10:17am

In reply to @emk507 "I too have been interested in taking lithium orotate prophylactically. However, I take an ARB for..." + (show)

@emk507
i will be interested in what you learn. As i understand lithium can impair the kidney’s ability
concentrate urine. But it does also seem to be dose dependent.

I get semi annual labs testing eGFR, serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and I believe Sodium , as well as urinalysis intel as well.

This study may interest you
Long-term, low-dose lithium treatment does not impair renal function in the elderly: a 2-year randomized, placebo-controlled trial followed by single-blind extension
J Clin Psychiatry. 2014; 75:e672-e678

There are a number of studies conducted on bipolar Patients because their dosage of lithium is so high - a thousand times higher than the low dose associated with cognitive impairment.

Good luck!!

longboat1 | @longboat1 | Feb 14 3:50pm

In reply to @pb50 "@longboat1 - I apologize because I intended to follow up and ask how your visit to..." + (show)

@pb50 thank you for asking about our visit to Atrium in Charlotte. They had all her prior info before the appt. The neuro interrogated me privately whole her assistant repeated the 30 question eval. During that meeting I informed the neuro that I had started LO on lithium orotate last August. She told me it had no place in the treatment scheme because it was based on "mouse data" and there was a danger of lithium poisoning. I told her that as she well knows there is nothing coming from Big Pharma and that I felt it was a reasonable thing to do based on the use of Li for other mental conditions at 1000 times the Li content. Her conclusion was that we stay the course with memantine and donepezil.

We regrouped in the exam room and neuro showed us the overall results of the testing and informed us that she was now at stage 5 and therefore well beyond the point where Leqembi could be beneficial.

That being said, we will return to the neurologist in Spartanburg who will continue to help us stay the course.

chrisanon | @chrisanon | Feb 15 9:32am

So important to trust your gut and get 2nd and 3rd opinions from separate entities. Good info, thanks.

pb50 | @pb50 | Feb 15 11:55am

Well it was time well spent - any data point is useful in my mind. And of course you anticipated the predictable response of ”it’s just mouse data.” It’s a safe corner for MDs. Particularly when they maintain a referral status with institutions running medication trials. I get it.

I am sorry your wife is advancing. Do you feel the current rx regime is adding value? I ask because I live alone and none of my children are medically literate. So periodically while I am capable, I conduct a running review of current options with my nurse friend who has my healthcare power of Atty. I ruled out the two available options because I have an instance of the APOE4 gene and fear the magnified risk of brain bleed could create a long term fiasco.

Thanks much for your update and insights.

longboat1 | @longboat1 | Feb 16 5:24pm

This post doesn't relate to Lithium Orotate but to another research approach to treat alzheimers. It's a long read but the work suggests that the current treatments are misguided. Unfortunately the researcher has had little success obtaining funding for expanding his work.
https://www.statnews.com/2018/10/29/alzheimers-research-outsider-bucked-prevailing-theory/

pb50 | @pb50 | Feb 17 5:26am

In reply to @longboat1 "This post doesn't relate to Lithium Orotate but to another research approach to treat alzheimers. It's..." + (show)

@longboat1
thanks! I scanned it quickly - interesting concept - I will find time to dive into it.
I was struck by a parallel type of discovery when we learned that gastric ulcers were caused by a H.Pylori bug and treated by readily available antibiotics - after generations of pain and misery in those afflicted. So I look forward to digesting the premise in this research!