Lithium in Drinking Water vs. Incidence of Dementia

[KHashmi317]

Way back in the Mailing List days, supplementing with lithium orotate was sometimes brought up.

 

A brief mention in pop-sci (Discover magazine, May 2018) alluded to some possible benefits, as per this study:

 

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/article-abstract/2649277?

 

Note the relatively large sample population (> 800,000).

 

Conclusions and Relevance

Long-term increased lithium exposure in drinking water may be associated with a lower incidence of dementia in a nonlinear way; however, confounding from other factors associated with municipality of residence cannot be excluded.

 

 

[Saul]

Hi Kashimi!

 

It's possible that lithium in drinking water in minimal amounts might have such effects. It's been known for a long time

that Lithium ions affect the brain; psychiatrists sometimes prescribe Lithium to treat bipolar disorder. So Li+ -- in very

small amounts -- might have such an effect.

 

OTOHH, different cities vary widely in the amounts of dissolved minerals. For example, NYC water is extremely low in most minerals;

and the drinking water in Rochester, NY is "hard" -- high in minerals.

 

There have been previous studies suggesting that "hard" water has advantages.

 

I certainly wouldn't advise supplementing Li+.

 

-- Saul