People with Alzheimer’s disease have lower levels of lithium in their brains than those without cognitive impairment, and the metal appears to accelerate the accumulation of amyloid plaques and memory

In further experiments using the mice, those with lithium-deficient brains developed more plaques than did animals with normal lithium levels. This kicked off a vicious cycle that might represent the devastating progression of Alzheimer’s disease: less lithium in the brain leads to more amyloid, which leads to even less lithium.

We may have new hope in the battle against Alzheimer's disease. Researchers have found that lithium levels in the brain are closely linked to the condition, and that lithium supplements can reverse Alzheimer's-like memory loss in mice.