Lithium Through Time: Past Insights, Present Applications and Future Prospects
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/JEHS.2026.88.69081Keywords
Lithium, bipolar disorder, suicide prevention, neuroprotection, neurodegenerative diseases, trace lithium in water, cluster headache, pregnancy, adverse effects, therapeutic drug monitoringAbstract
Introduction and Purpose:
Lithium is a cornerstone of psychopharmacology, with expanding roles beyond psychiatry. This narrative review covers its historical evolution, current applications, and emerging uses in psychiatry, neurology, and general medicine—focusing on bipolar disorder, suicide prevention, neurodegeneration, infections, and pregnancy. The aim is to synthesize mechanistic and clinical data showing how lithium’s actions (GSK-3 inhibition, neurotrophic support, anti-inflammatory effects) enable precise, safe prescribing.
Materials and Methods:
This narrative synthesis draws from recent systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and key studies on lithium’s efficacy, mechanisms, and novel indications (past decade). PubMed, psychiatry/neurology journals, and public health reports were searched using terms like "lithium bipolar," "lithium suicide," "lithium neurodegeneration," prioritizing robust, clinically relevant sources.
Results:
Lithium is the gold-standard mood stabilizer (50–67% response rates, ~5-fold suicide risk reduction). Trace lithium in water links to lower suicide/dementia rates. Early data support neuroprotection in MCI/Alzheimer’s, plus roles in cluster headache, infections, and perinatal mood—offset by renal/thyroid/cardiac risks needing monitoring.
Conclusions:
Lithium excels in bipolar disorder and suicide prevention, with neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory potential. Future focus: low-dose regimens, precision monitoring, digital tools.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Patrycja Rędziniak, Monika Rajs, Patrycja Przebieradło, Sandra Żak, Alicja Ruzik, Antonina Gaj, Monika Kowalska, Katarzyna Żurek, Kaja Stolarska, Sandra Terpiłowska
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