Lithium in drinking water could reduce dementia incidence

Researchers from the University of Copenhagen (Denmark) have suggested that therapeutic doses of lithium in drinking water may improve learning and modify risk of developing dementia. The study, published today in JAMA Psychiatry, examined longitudinal, nationwide data in a Denmark, finding that mean lithium exposure in drinking water correlated with a lower incidence of dementia. Previous studies in animals and humans have indicated that therapeutic doses of lithium could improve cognition and reduce risk of dementia, with further preliminary studies suggesting that sub-therapeutic levels may influence human cognition. In this new study, researchers explored Danish population-wide data: a total of...