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Neal MA, Strawbridge R, Wing VC, Cousins DA, Thelwall PE. Human brain 7Li-MRI following low-dose lithium dietary supplementation in healthy participants. J Affect Disord 2024; 360:139-145. [PMID: 38810780 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.05.128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lithium is an effective mood stabiliser, but its mechanism of action is incompletely defined. Even at very low doses, lithium may have neuroprotective effects, but it is not clear if these relate to brain lithium concentration in vivo. We have developed magnetic resonance imaging (7Li-MRI) methods to detect lithium in the brain following supplementation at a very low dose. METHODS Lithium orotate supplements were taken by nine healthy adult male subjects (5 mg daily) for up to 28 days, providing 2-7 % of the lithium content of a typical therapeutic lithium carbonate dose. One-dimensional 7Li-images were acquired on a 3.0 T MRI scanner. All subjects were scanned on day 14 or 28; seven were scanned on both, one at baseline and one after 7-days washout. RESULTS 7Li-MR signal amplitude was broadly stable between days 14 and 28. Two subjects had notably higher 7Li-signal intensities (approximately 2-4×) compared to other study participants. LIMITATIONS Lithium adherence was self-reported by all participants without formal validation. The coarse spatial resolution necessary for detection of low concentrations of 7Li exhibits imperfect spatial separation of signal from adjacent pixels. CONCLUSIONS 7Li-MRI performed using a clinical 3T scanner demonstrated detection of lithium in the brain at very low concentration, in the range of approximately 10-60 mM. The methods are suited to studies assessing low dose lithium administration in psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, and permit the comparison of different lithium salt preparations at a time of emerging interest in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary A Neal
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Newcastle Magnetic Resonance Centre, Health Innovation Neighbourhood, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Rebecca Strawbridge
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Victoria C Wing
- Newcastle Magnetic Resonance Centre, Health Innovation Neighbourhood, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, UK
| | - David A Cousins
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Newcastle Magnetic Resonance Centre, Health Innovation Neighbourhood, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, UK.
| | - Peter E Thelwall
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Newcastle Magnetic Resonance Centre, Health Innovation Neighbourhood, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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Brancati GE, Magnesa A, Acierno D, Carli M, De Rosa U, Froli A, Gemignani S, Ventura L, Weiss F, Perugi G. Current nonstimulant medications for adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Expert Rev Neurother 2024:1-17. [PMID: 38915262 DOI: 10.1080/14737175.2024.2370346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Stimulants, including methylphenidate and amphetamines, are the first-line pharmacological treatment of ADHD in adults. However, in patients who do not respond or poorly tolerate stimulants, non-stimulant medications are usually recommended. AREAS COVERED The authors provide a narrative review of the literature on non-stimulant treatments for adult ADHD, including controlled and observational clinical studies conducted on adult samples. Atomoxetine has been extensively studied and showed significant efficacy in treating adult ADHD. Issues related to dosing, treatment duration, safety, and use in the case of psychiatric comorbidity are summarized. Among other compounds indicated for ADHD in adults, antidepressants sharing at least a noradrenergic or dopaminergic component, including tricyclic compounds, bupropion, and viloxazine, have shown demonstratable efficacy. Evidence is also available for antihypertensives, particularly guanfacine, as well as memantine, metadoxine, and mood stabilizers, while negative findings have emerged for galantamine, antipsychotics, and cannabinoids. EXPERT OPINION While according to clinical guidelines, atomoxetine may serve as the only second-line option in adults with ADHD, several other nonstimulant compounds may be effectively used in order to personalize treatment based on comorbid conditions and ADHD features. Nevertheless, further research is needed to identify and test more personalized treatment strategies for adults with ADHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulio Emilio Brancati
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Anna Magnesa
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Donatella Acierno
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Marco Carli
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Ugo De Rosa
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessandro Froli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Samuele Gemignani
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Lisa Ventura
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesco Weiss
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giulio Perugi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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Manchia M, Paribello P, Pinna M, Steardo L, Carpiniello B, Pinna F, Pisanu C, Squassina A, Hajek T. Lithium and its effects: does dose matter? Int J Bipolar Disord 2024; 12:23. [PMID: 38914810 PMCID: PMC11196441 DOI: 10.1186/s40345-024-00345-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Decades of clinical research have demonstrated the efficacy of lithium in treating acute episodes (both manic and depressive), as well as in preventing recurrences of bipolar disorder (BD). Specific to lithium is its antisuicidal effect, which appears to extend beyond its mood-stabilizing properties. Lithium's clinical effectiveness is, to some extent, counterbalanced by its safety and tolerability profile. Indeed, monitoring of lithium levels is required by its narrow therapeutic index. There is consensus that adequate serum levels should be above 0.6 mEq/L to achieve clinical effectiveness. However, few data support the choice of this threshold, and increasing evidence suggests that lithium might have clinical and molecular effects at much lower concentrations. CONTENT This narrative review is aimed at: (1) reviewing and critically interpreting the clinical evidence supporting the use of the 0.6 mEq/L threshold, (2) reporting a narrative synthesis of the evidence supporting the notion that lithium might be effective in much lower doses. Among these are epidemiological studies of lithium in water, evidence on the antisuicidal, anti-aggressive, and neuroprotective effects, including efficacy in preventing cognitive impairment progression, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), of lithium; and (3) revieweing biological data supporting clinically viable uses of lithium at low levels with the delineation of a mechanistic hypothesis surrounding its purported mechanism of action. The study selection was based on the authors' preference, reflecting the varied and extensive expertise on the review subject, further enriched with an extensive pearl-growing strategy for relevant reviews and book sections. CONCLUSIONS Clinical and molecular effects of lithium are numerous, and its effects also appear to have a certain degree of specificity related to the dose administered. In sum, the clinical effects of lithium are maximal for mood stabilisation at concentrations higher than 0.6 mEq/l. However, lower levels may be sufficient for preventing depressive recurrences in older populations of patients, and microdoses could be effective in decreasing suicide risk, especially in patients with BD. Conversely, lithium's ability to counteract cognitive decline appears to be exerted at subtherapeutic doses, possibly corresponding to its molecular neuroprotective effects. Indeed, lithium may reduce inflammation and induce neuroprotection even at doses several folds lower than those commonly used in clinical settings. Nevertheless, findings surrounding its purported mechanism of action are missing, and more research is needed to investigate the molecular targets of low-dose lithium adequately.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirko Manchia
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
- Unit of Clinical Psychiatry, University Hospital Agency of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, Italy.
| | - Pasquale Paribello
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
- Unit of Clinical Psychiatry, University Hospital Agency of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Martina Pinna
- Unit of Forensic Psychiatry, Health Agency of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Luca Steardo
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro Magna Graecia, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Bernardo Carpiniello
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
- Unit of Clinical Psychiatry, University Hospital Agency of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Federica Pinna
- Section of Psychiatry, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
- Unit of Clinical Psychiatry, University Hospital Agency of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Claudia Pisanu
- Section of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Alessio Squassina
- Section of Neuroscience and Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
- Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Tomas Hajek
- Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
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Rice SM, Nelson B, Amminger GP, Francey SM, Phillips LJ, Simmons MB, Ross M, Yuen HP, Yung AR, O'Gorman K, McGorry PD, Wood SJ, Berger GE. An open label pilot trial of low-dose lithium for young people at ultra-high risk for psychosis. Early Interv Psychiatry 2024. [PMID: 38600049 DOI: 10.1111/eip.13526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
AIM Lithium, even at low doses, appears to offer neuroprotection against a wide variety of insults. In this controlled pilot, we examined the safety (i.e., side-effect profile) of lithium in a sample of young people identified at ultra-high risk (UHR) for psychosis. The secondary aim was to explore whether lithium provided a signal of clinical efficacy in reducing transition to psychosis compared with treatment as usual (TAU). METHODS Young people attending the PACE clinic at Orygen, Melbourne, were prescribed a fixed dose (450 mg) of lithium (n = 25) or received TAU (n = 78). The primary outcome examined side-effects, with transition to psychosis, functioning and measures of psychopathology assessed as secondary outcomes. RESULTS Participants in both groups were functionally compromised (lithium group GAF = 56.6; monitoring group GAF = 56.9). Side-effect assessment indicated that lithium was well-tolerated. 64% (n = 16) of participants in the lithium group were lithium-adherent to week 12. Few cases transitioned to psychosis across the study period; lithium group 4% (n = 1); monitoring group 7.7% (n = 6). There was no difference in time to transition to psychosis between the groups. No group differences were observed in other functioning and symptom domains, although all outcomes improved over time. CONCLUSIONS With a side-effect profile either comparable to, or better than UHR antipsychotic trials, lithium might be explored for further research with UHR young people. A definitive larger trial is needed to determine the efficacy of lithium in this cohort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon M Rice
- Orygen, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Barnaby Nelson
- Orygen, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - G Paul Amminger
- Orygen, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Shona M Francey
- Orygen, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lisa J Phillips
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Magenta B Simmons
- Orygen, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Margaret Ross
- Orygen, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Hok Pan Yuen
- Orygen, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Alison R Yung
- Orygen, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation (IMPACT), Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Kieran O'Gorman
- Orygen, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Patrick D McGorry
- Orygen, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Stephen J Wood
- Orygen, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Institute for Mental Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Gregor E Berger
- Orygen, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Pereira AAR, Pinto AM, Malerba HN, Toricelli M, Buck HS, Viel TA. Microdose lithium improves behavioral deficits and modulates molecular mechanisms of memory formation in female SAMP-8, a mouse model of accelerated aging. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0299534. [PMID: 38574297 PMCID: PMC10994667 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0299534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neuronal disorder that leads to the development of dementia. Until nowadays, some therapies may alleviate the symptoms, but there is no pharmacological treatment. Microdosing lithium has been used to modify the pathological characteristics of the disease, with effects in both experimental and clinical conditions. The present work aimed to analyze the effects of this treatment on spatial memory, anxiety, and molecular mechanisms related to long-term memory formation during the aging process of a mouse model of accelerated aging (SAMP-8). Female SAMP-8 showed learning and memory impairments together with disruption of memory mechanisms, neuronal loss, and increased density of senile plaques compared to their natural control strain, the senescence-accelerated mouse resistant (SAMR-1). Chronic treatment with lithium promoted memory maintenance, reduction in anxiety, and maintenance of proteins related to memory formation and neuronal density. The density of senile plaques was also reduced. An increase in the density of gamma-aminobutyric acid A (GABAA) and α7 nicotinic cholinergic receptors was also observed and related to neuroprotection and anxiety reduction. In addition, this microdose of lithium inhibited the activation of glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3β), the classical mechanism of lithium cell effects, which could contribute to the preservation of the memory mechanism and reduction in senile plaque formation. This work shows that lithium effects in neuroprotection along the aging process are not related to a unique cellular mechanism but produce multiple effects that slowly protect the brain along the aging process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur Antonio Ruiz Pereira
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate Course on Pharmacology, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology of Aging, School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alessandra Macedo Pinto
- Graduate Course on Gerontology, School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Helena Nascimento Malerba
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate Course on Pharmacology, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology of Aging, School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mariana Toricelli
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology of Aging, School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Hudson Sousa Buck
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology of Aging, School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Physiology, University of Mogi das Cruzes, Mogi das Cruzes, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Tania Araujo Viel
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate Course on Pharmacology, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology of Aging, School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Graduate Course on Gerontology, School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
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Strawbridge R, Young AH. Lithium: how low can you go? Int J Bipolar Disord 2024; 12:4. [PMID: 38289425 PMCID: PMC10828288 DOI: 10.1186/s40345-024-00325-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Strawbridge
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Centre for Affective Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, 103 Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AZ, UK.
| | - Allan H Young
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Centre for Affective Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, 103 Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AZ, UK
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Strawbridge R, Young AH. Reevaluating the Association Between Autism and Lithium Exposure During Pregnancy. JAMA Pediatr 2023; 177:1240-1241. [PMID: 37782484 DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.3951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Strawbridge
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Allan H Young
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
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Pacchiarotti I, Giménez-Palomo A, Radua J. Should we consider adding low-dose lithium to our diet to prevent cognitive decline and suicidality? Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 153:105329. [PMID: 37506858 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Pacchiarotti
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), CIBERSAM, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Bipolar Disorders and Depressive Unit, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Giménez-Palomo
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), CIBERSAM, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Bipolar Disorders and Depressive Unit, Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joaquim Radua
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), CIBERSAM, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
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Puglisi-Allegra S, Lazzeri G, Busceti CL, Giorgi FS, Biagioni F, Fornai F. Lithium engages autophagy for neuroprotection and neuroplasticity: translational evidence for therapy. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 148:105148. [PMID: 36996994 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
Here an overview is provided on therapeutic/neuroprotective effects of Lithium (Li+) in neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders focusing on the conspicuous action of Li+ through autophagy. The effects on the autophagy machinery remain the key molecular mechanisms to explain the protective effects of Li+ for neurodegenerative diseases, offering potential therapeutic strategies for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders and emphasizes a crossroad linking autophagy, neurodegenerative disorders, and mood stabilization. Sensitization by psychostimulants points to several mechanisms involved in psychopathology, most also crucial in neurodegenerative disorders. Evidence shows the involvement of autophagy and metabotropic Glutamate receptors-5 (mGluR5) in neurodegeneration due to methamphetamine neurotoxicity as well as in neuroprotection, both in vitro and in vivo models. More recently, Li+ was shown to modulate autophagy through its action on mGluR5, thus pointing to an additional way of autophagy engagement by Li+ and to a substantial role of mGluR5 in neuroprotection related to neural e neuropsychiatry diseases. We propose Li+ engagement of autophagy through the canonical mechanisms of autophagy machinery and through the intermediary of mGluR5.
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