Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39055498›Full record

ReviewFrontiers in pharmacology2024

Molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential of lithium in Alzheimer's disease: repurposing an old class of drugs.

Yanxin Shen, Meng Zhao, Panpan Zhao, Lingjie Meng, Yan Zhang, Guimei Zhang, Yezi Taishi, Li Sun

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Frontiers in pharmacology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 18 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
18citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

18 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Review
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Review
  9. [Lithium and its impact on renal function. Recommendations for practice, especially for older patients].Neuropsychiatrie : Klinik, Diagnostik, Therapie und Rehabilitation : Organ der Gesellschaft Osterreichischer Nervenarzte und Psychiater · 2025
    Review
  10. Article
  11. Article
  12. Review
  13. Intranasal Delivery of Lithium Salt Suppresses Inflammatory Pyroptosis in the Brain and Ameliorates Memory Loss and Depression-like Behavior in 5XFAD Mice.Journal of neuroimmune pharmacology : the official journal of the Society on NeuroImmune Pharmacology · 2025
    Article
  14. Review
  15. Article
  16. Review
  17. Review
  18. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Yanxin ShenDepartment of Neurology and Neuroscience Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China.
Meng ZhaoDepartment of Neurology and Neuroscience Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China.
Panpan ZhaoDepartment of Neurology and Neuroscience Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China.
Lingjie MengDepartment of Neurology and Neuroscience Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China.
Yan ZhangDepartment of Neurology and Neuroscience Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China.
Guimei ZhangDepartment of Neurology and Neuroscience Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China.
Yezi TaishiDepartment of Cadre Ward, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China.
Li SunDepartment of Neurology and Neuroscience Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive decline and memory loss. Despite advances in understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms of AD, effective treatments remain scarce. Lithium salts, recognized as mood stabilizers in bipolar disorder, have been extensively studied for their neuroprotective effects. Several studies indicate that lithium may be a disease-modifying agent in the treatment of AD. Lithium's neuroprotective properties in AD by acting on multiple neuropathological targets, such as reducing amyloid deposition and tau phosphorylation, enhancing autophagy, neurogenesis, and synaptic plasticity, regulating cholinergic and glucose metabolism, inhibiting neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis, while preserving mitochondrial function. Clinical trials have demonstrated that lithium therapy can improve cognitive function in patients with AD. In particular, meta-analyses have shown that lithium may be a more effective and safer treatment than the recently FDA-approved aducanumab for improving cognitive function in patients with AD. The affordability and therapeutic efficacy of lithium have prompted a reassessment of its use. However, the use of lithium may lead to potential side effects and safety issues, which may limit its clinical application. Currently, several new lithium formulations are undergoing clinical trials to improve safety and efficacy. This review focuses on lithium's mechanism of action in treating AD, highlighting the latest advances in preclinical studies and clinical trials. It also explores the side effects of lithium therapy and coping strategies, offering a potential therapeutic strategy for patients with AD.

Indexed as

Alzheimer’s diseaseclinical trialglycogen synthase kinase-3lithiumneuroprotectionside effecttreatment

Identifiers

PMID39055498
PMCPMC11269163

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.