A series of recent studies, including a prominent paper published in Nature by Harvard researchers, have identified lithium deficiency in the brain as an early factor in the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Research in mouse models demonstrated that lithium depletion correlates with increased amyloid plaque accumulation—up to 2.5 times more than in mice with normal lithium levels—and worsened memory performance. Importantly, treatment with a novel lithium compound, lithium orotate, restored memory function and reversed disease features in these models by replenishing the brain's natural lithium stores. These findings suggest lithium, traditionally used to treat bipolar disorder, may have therapeutic potential for preventing and treating Alzheimer’s. The metal appears to be crucial for maintaining normal brain cell function and cognitive health, with deficiency accelerating amyloid pathology and cognitive decline. The research highlights a decade-long mild cognitive impairment phase preceding dementia, affecting about 10% of people over 65. Despite promising results, funding challenges remain for further exploration of lithium’s role in neurodegenerative diseases. Additional studies from institutions like MIT are investigating other mechanisms in Alzheimer’s treatment beyond amyloid plaques, such as DNA repair and RNA modification. The discovery has renewed scientific interest in lithium as a potential key to addressing Alzheimer’s disease, which accounts for 60-80% of dementia cases worldwide.