Science Friday Lithium May Have A Role In Causing—And Treating—Alzheimer’s
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Aug 8, 2025 
Renowned Alzheimer's researcher Bruce Yankner from Harvard Medical School discusses groundbreaking findings linking lithium levels to Alzheimer's, exploring its dual role in both causing and potentially treating the disease. Katelyn Jetelina, an epidemiologist and author, highlights the detrimental effects of recent funding cuts on critical Alzheimer's research and the broader implications for health initiatives funded by the NIH. Together, they emphasize the urgent need for public advocacy to support scientific advancements.
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Lithium's Role in Alzheimer's
- Lithium naturally occurs in the brain and decreases in regions affected by Alzheimer's.
- Lithium deficiency in mice triggers Alzheimer's symptoms and pathology progression.
Lithium Reverses Alzheimer's Features
- Lithium reverses pathological features like amyloid, tau, and memory loss in Alzheimer's mouse models.
- It activates the Wnt pathway that regulates a key protein linked to aging and Alzheimer's.
Amyloid's Complex Role in Alzheimer's
- Amyloid plaques hallmark Alzheimer's but their role is unclear, as some with plaques don't have dementia.
- Immunotherapies targeting amyloid have emerged as the first treatments affecting disease cause, not just symptoms.