Low-dose lithium may slow verbal memory decline in older adults, pilot trial finds
Mar 11th 2026
A University of Pittsburgh two-year pilot trial published in JAMA Neurology found low-dose oral lithium was safe and associated with slower verbal memory decline in older adults with mild cognitive impairment, with stronger signals in those with amyloid beta pathology.
- Two-year randomized placebo-controlled pilot enrolled adults 60 and older with mild cognitive impairment to low-dose lithium or placebo.
- Participants receiving lithium showed slower decline on a sensitive verbal memory test compared with placebo.
- Hippocampal shrinkage occurred in both groups and overall between-group differences on brain imaging did not reach statistical significance.
- Exploratory analyses suggested larger benefits among participants who were positive for amyloid beta.
- Low-dose lithium was safe and well tolerated when carefully monitored and investigators plan a larger, amyloid-guided trial