4 things to know about a new study on lithium and Alzheimer’s disease

4 things to know about a new study on lithium and Alzheimer’s disease Science Aug 28, 2025 5:10 PM EDT

A recent study from Harvard Medical School asks whether the element lithium might be a key factor in whether someone develops Alzheimer’s disease.

Led by Dr. Bruce Yankner, professor of genetics and neurology at Harvard Medical School, the almost-decade long study says it is the first to show that lithium is found naturally in the brain in small amounts and suggests that the element plays an important role in the prevention and treatment of cognitive decline.

The study published in Nature this month found a link between lithium deficiency in the brain and an increase in amyloid plaques and tau tangles — known contributors to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. In trials on mi