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New intel re Lithium Orotate
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.”
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It is a very weak acid but considered essential by NIH… Like most things, it is a question of avoiding excess. I have doubt it is an issue in the doses we are discussing, but would appreciate your informed insight.
I would love to include what research tells us on intake. I have read recommended limits of intake of orotic acid but low dose lithium orotate is derived from low dose elemental lithium in combination with orotic acid to improve absorption - just as another salt - carbonate - is used with Lithium in much higher doses to treat bipolar disease.
Given the decades of using these forms of salts in combination with elemental forms of active drugs, i don’t expect issues with the salts in this form. But again i would love your insight.
From National Institute of Health:
…orotic acid (formerly Vitamin 13) is a naturally occurring compound crucial for synthesizing nucleotides (DNA/RNA) and supporting cellular energy, heart health, and metabolism. Often used in mineral chelates (e.g., magnesium orotate) to boost absorption, it helps treat conditions like cardiovascular issues, arthritis, and osteoporosis.
We conclude that the OA molecule is itself required for the regulation of genes that are important in the development of cells, tissues and organisms.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27906623/
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I was happy to hear that she was aware of the literature on lithium orotate and had no objection to my taking it at 15mg daily. Her comments about not smoking or drinking and to continue walking and playing music were friendly encouragement to keep doing what I'm doing.
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1 ReactionGood. I was unclear whether you were receiving it as snide or reinforcement. My primary initially delivered the requisite message ‘you should wait until human trials are conducted’ but now seems to believe it can’t hurt at my 12mg dose.
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2 ReactionsI started my husband on 5 mg of lithium orotate six months ago. He was diagnosed back in early 2018 with Alzheimers but it's been a relatively slow progression. I don't know if it's helped; it certainly hasn't improved things, but who knows how he would have progressed, had he not started taking it.
He just had lab work done. His lithium came back at under 0.1 when normal is 0.6 to 1.2 (sorry; don't know what the unit of measure is!). Other labs were all normal. But this suggests something is going on with the lithium. His internist son suggested increasing it to 20 mg daily and measuring lithium level in 30 days. And if someone were starting it, a baseline level would be helpful.
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5 Reactions@annedallas very interesting. Keep us posted!
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