Check out this link from Germany-Italy. They have had success in treatment. Have you seen this paper. Randy
Here is a translation of the italian article on Lithium.
Nov 23, 2007
Italy. Lithium effective against ALS
Lithium “to slow down, with a certainty in excess of 95%, the progression of ALS”. These exceptional results came out from an Italian study on 48 ALS patients, 32 treated with standard therapy of riluzol, 16 treated with riluzol and lithium. These results have already been submitted to a well-known international journal that is now verifying the data and may publish the report shortly. “15 months after the start of the study, 30% of the patients treated only with riluzol died. In the second group there were no deaths, even though half of the patients in the group had the most aggressive form of ALS, that is bulbar”. This is what one of the Italian researchers, experimenting with the use of lithium against ALS, Francesco Fornai, associate professor of the department of Human Morphology and applied biology at the University of Pisa, stated. Furthermore, utilizing parameters from the neurological scale to measure progression, there was no significant deterioration of the ALSFRS-R, while the decline was evident within 3 months in the other group. At the end of the study the decline was measured at 50%. A preview of this study was given on Nov 8, 2007 during the XXXIV LIMPE Congress, the Italian league in the fight against Parkinson�s disease. The neurodegenerative pathology and ALS, explain the researchers, have many common elements. Funds permitting, lithium will also be studied against Parkinson�s disease. In the meantime, the Italian study may obscure patient�s expectation of the other study due in January 2008, that is the US study on the Igf-1. The attention on therapies against ALS has intensified in Italy since the Ministry of Health decided against the treatment of patients with the drug Igf-1 or the combination Igf-1/Igf-Bp3. Fornai started to study medications not provided by the Healthcare system in Italy, which patients have had to go through the Courts to obtain. Fornai started to study the effect of lithium 2 years ago on mice genetically modified to develop ALS, starting with the capacity of this substance to intervene on certain cellular degenerative processes. “As I proceeded with the research I noticed how lithium would slow down other cellular damaging mechanisms.” The Italian researcher explains how, with appropriate distinctions, ALS and Parkinson are similar in the effect they have on cells. “ In the first a slight compromise of the damaged neurons in Parkinson, in the latter we noticed spinal damage as in ALS”. Lithium, known as a treatment for bipolar conditions, “accelerates mechanism to remove proteins and altered mitochondrion. It also increases the speed that cells dispose of signs of the decease, practically freeing themselves. Lithium always promotes the birth of new mitochondrion. Therefore, it does not block the gene that triggers the decease but it accelerates at that point the replacement to stop the progression, a process that the third characteristic of lithium contributes to, i.e. neurogenesi. In some stem cell studies, it was observed how this substance increases the survival in the bone marrow.” Since the first tests were concluded, one hundred more patients are now under treatment, under a new protocol established with the Italian Drugs agency (AIFA). “If the positive results are confirmed by this new study, the sampling will be even larger. Likely, colleagues in the rest of the world will do the same”. The Italian scientist will continue his research in this area but adds: “we have to try other molecules such as Rapamycin (sirolimus) that in contrast to lithium is more expansive” Although the road is clearer, the hunt is not over. It is a project that the University of Pisa is undertaking with IRCCS Neuromed, the west Piedmont University, the IRCCS Santa Lucia and the teaching polyclinic Sant�Andrea in Rome.
This article was published in a publication called Stem Cells bi-weekly publication Cellule Staminali ( http://staminali.aduc.it) bi-weekly news on therapeudic cloning Edited by: ADUC ( association for the rights of users and consumers) Via Cavour, 68 -50129 Florence Italy Tel 055-290606 Fax 055-2302452 aduc@...
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Cass A
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11134
posted
In the U.S., Lithium, a toxic metal, is used at a dose that is close to fatal to "treat" mental patients. Because the lithium salts displace other salts, and the body stores the lithium in fatty tissue to keep the body from being poisoned, when a person exercizes or sweats, they can release enough lithium into their body to be fatal.
Patients being given lithium are supposed to get their blood tested frequently to be sure they are not being given a toxic dose.
There have been discussions of lithium on this board before, usually about some other form than the type used in psychiatry. I have no data about that kind. It is unclear from this article what form of lithium was used in these test.
Best,
Cass A
Posts: 1245 | From Thousand Oaks, CA | Registered: Feb 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
-
I can't read the posts . . .just got a sentence or two.
Stuff just runs together for me.
I do know that lithium OROTATE in very small doses has been used by some with lyme and there is indication that this can help protect brain cells, from the doctor I asked about this.
For me, even a small amount of that particular type really increased the fatigue and vertigo, but everything that is meant to calm at all does that for me. Others seem to do fine with it.
If anyone can break apart the paragraphs in the first post, I'd love to read what it says. The link is nice, but it's in another language.
I agree with you on the form of Li used in conventional medicine. i've read the same thing in the general literature years ago...
the article IS unclear about the specific form of lithium, but implicitly suggests the form used in conventional psychiatry.
perhaps lithium orotate(Li hooked up to orotic acid), or lithium citrate(Li hoooked up to citric acid), the latter being in the soda pop, "7-UP,"decades ago?
posted
If as some suspect, ALS can have various causes, will one size fit all when it comes to treatment? ALS/Lyme for instance?
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Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5338
posted
Lithium to slow down, with a certainty in excess of 95%, the progression of ALS.
These exceptional results came out from an Italian study on 48 ALS patients, 32 treated with standard therapy of riluzol, 16 treated with riluzol and lithium.
These results have already been submitted to a well-known international journal that is now verifying the data and may publish the report shortly.
15 months after the start of the study, 30% of the patients treated only with riluzol died.
In the second group there were no deaths, even though half of the patients in the group had the most aggressive form of ALS, that is bulbar.
This is what one of the Italian researchers, experimenting with the use of lithium against ALS, Francesco Fornai, associate professor of the department of Human Morphology and applied biology at the University of Pisa, stated.
Furthermore, utilizing parameters from the neurological scale to measure progression, there was no significant deterioration of the ALSFRS-R, while the decline was evident within 3 months in the other group.
At the end of the study the decline was measured at 50%. A preview of this study was given on Nov 8, 2007 during the XXXIV LIMPE Congress, the Italian league in the fight against Parkinsons disease.
The neurodegenerative pathology and ALS, explain the researchers, have many common elements.
Funds permitting, lithium will also be studied against Parkinsons disease.
In the meantime, the Italian study may obscure patients expectation of the other study due in January 2008, that is the US study on the Igf-1.
The attention on therapies against ALS has intensified in Italy since the Ministry of Health decided against the treatment of patients with the drug Igf-1 or the combination Igf-1/Igf-Bp3.
Fornai started to study medications not provided by the Healthcare system in Italy, which patients have had to go through the Courts to obtain.
Fornai started to study the effect of lithium 2 years ago on mice genetically modified to develop ALS, starting with the capacity of this substance to intervene on certain cellular degenerative processes.
As I proceeded with the research I noticed how lithium would slow down other cellular damaging mechanisms.
The Italian researcher explains how, with appropriate distinctions, ALS and Parkinson are similar in the effect they have on cells.
In the first a slight compromise of the damaged neurons in Parkinson, in the latter we noticed spinal damage as in ALS.
Lithium, known as a treatment for bipolar conditions, accelerates mechanism to remove proteins and altered mitochondrion.
It also increases the speed that cells dispose of signs of the decease, practically freeing themselves.
Lithium always promotes the birth of new mitochondrion.
Therefore, it does not block the gene that triggers the decease but it accelerates at that point the replacement to stop the progression, a process that the third characteristic of lithium contributes to, i.e. neurogenesi.
In some stem cell studies, it was observed how this substance increases the survival in the bone marrow.
Since the first tests were concluded, one hundred more patients are now under treatment, under a new protocol established with the Italian Drugs agency (AIFA).
If the positive results are confirmed by this new study, the sampling will be even larger. Likely, colleagues in the rest of the world will do the same.
The Italian scientist will continue his research in this area but adds: we have to try other molecules such as Rapamycin (sirolimus) that in contrast to lithium is more expansive.
Although the road is clearer, the hunt is not over. It is a project that the University of Pisa is undertaking with IRCCS Neuromed, the west Piedmont University, the IRCCS Santa Lucia and the teaching polyclinic Sant Andrea in Rome.
Posts: 6947 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
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tailz
Unregistered
posted
I'm pretty sure I was on Lithium in the past. Great.
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The Misunderstood Mineral Part 1 By Jonathan V. Wright, M.D. (Reprinted From "Nutrition and Healing")
Think young into your 90s with this anti-aging secret for your brain
The biggest problem with lithium treatment is people's perception of it. Since its most well known use is for bi-polar disorder, lithium sometimes encounters the same stigma as mental illness itself.
I've been taking a lithium supplement every day for several years. When I tell people about it, they sometimes get funny looks on their faces and start eyeing the corners of the room for straight jackets. These reactions don't surprise me, since, as I said, lithium is usually associated with mental illness. But I've never suffered from a mental disorder (although certain mainstream medical doctors and possibly a federal agency or two might disagree). Treating manic-depressive (bi-polar) illness is lithium's most widely known use--but it isn't an anti-psychotic drug, as many people believe. In fact, lithium isn't a drug at all. It's actually a mineral-part of the same family of minerals that includes sodium and potassium.
You might remember reading several editions of Health e-Tips a few months ago that discussed various benefits of lithium. In addition to the benefits mentioned in the e-Tips, like controlling gout and relieving rashes caused by sebhorric dermatitis, lithium also has some great brain-boosting effects. In fact, I've reviewed both recent lithium research and the research spanning the past few decades, and I'm convinced that lithium is an anti-aging nutrient for human brains. And there are also some very strong reasons to believe that lithium therapy will slow the progression of serious degenerative mental problems, including Alzheimer's disease, senile dementia, and Parkinson's disease.
So there are obviously quite a few "pros" to using lithium, but you're probably wondering about the "cons." In the 1930s and '40s, lithium chloride was sold in stores as a salt substitute. But (as frequently happens) some people used way too much and suffered toxic overdoses, so it fell out of common use. Fortunately, lithium toxicity is entirely preventable, and it's also easily treatable if it ever does occur -- but more about that later. Right now, let's get into some of the specifics on just how you (and your brain) can benefit from lithium.
Taking (grey) matters into your own hands
Hercule Poirot, Agatha Christie's famous fictional detective, had an amusing quirk in his incessant concern for his "little grey cells." I thought of Hercule several years ago when I saw the following headline in an issue of the Lancet: "Lithium-induced increase in human brain grey matter."
That may not sound like an earth-shattering piece of news, but it actually was quite a major discovery. To that point, medical experts believed that once our brains matured, it was all downhill from then on. Decades of autopsies, x-rays, and, more recently, brain scans have repeatedly shown that brains shrink measurably with aging. But according to their report in the Lancet, Wayne State University (Detroit) researchers found that lithium has the ability to both protect and renew brain cells.1 Eight of 10 individuals who took lithium showed an average 3 percent increase in brain grey matter in just four weeks.
Lithium may help to generate entirely new cells too: Another group of researchers recently reported that lithium also enhances nerve cell DNA replication.2 DNA replication is a first step in the formation of a new cell of any type.
The Wayne State study used high-dose lithium, but I'm certainly not using that amount myself, nor do I recommend it. Prescription quantities of lithium just aren't necessary for "everyday" brain cell protection and re-growth. Studies done years ago have shown that very low amounts of lithium can also measurably influence brain function for the better.
Protect yourself from brain damage you didn't even know you had
Aside from boosting brain mass, recent research also shows that lithium can help protect your brain from the "beating" it gets in the course of everyday life. Your brain cells are constantly at risk of damage from exposure to toxins of all sorts-even ones produced by your own body. Toxic molecules are formed naturally during the course of normal brain metabolism.3-7 Since these "normal" toxic molecules (sometimes called "excitotoxins") are produced every day of your life, eventually they start to wear down or erode away brain mass.
Another well-known cause of brain cell injury is overactivated N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Lithium can inhibit this overactivity.8 And lithium also increases production of a major brain protective protein called "bcl-2" in both human and animal brain cells.9
So it appears that lithium can protect against normal brain erosion and shrinkage that would otherwise occur over the course of our lives. But lithium also protects the brain from other less "normal" problems too, like damage caused by prescription medications and strokes.
When a clot or other obstruction occurs in a blood vessel serving the brain, it causes a reduction of blood flow to that area. If it's bad enough, the lack of blood flow will cause a stroke and death of brain cells. (This type of stroke is known as an ischemic stroke.) Research in experimental animals with deliberately induced ischemic strokes has shown that lithium reduces the areas of cell death.10,11
In one of these studies, researchers blocked a brain artery in rats. Some were pre-treated with lithium for 16 days, the rest weren't. The researchers reported that the lithium-treated rats experienced 56 percent less cell death and significantly fewer neurologic deficits than the control rats.12
And sometimes medications designed to treat other problems end up having a negative impact on the brain. For example, anti-convulsant medications cause abnormal levels of brain cell death. But lithium significantly protects against this type of cell death-so much so that this effect has been called "robust" (a term scientists use to mean "It really works!").13
In fact, based on its general neuroprotective effect, researchers have recently suggested that "the use of lithium as a neurotrophic/neuroprotective agent should be considered in the long term treatment of mood disorders, irrespective of the 'primary' treatment modality being used for the condition."14 Translation: Lithium should be used along with any patent medicine being used for depression, anxiety, or any other "mood-altering" reason, since it will protect brain cells against their unwanted toxic effects. The researchers didn't say so, but I will: Any list of "mood altering substances" should include alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, "uppers," "downers," and-for those who do inhale-marijuana. Harmless as some of them might seem, these substances can cause brain damage with medium to long-term abuse.
Keeping your brain's lines of communication open -and healthy
Scientists determine how healthy brain cells are by measuring levels of a molecule called N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA). A decrease in NAA is thought to reflect decreased nerve cell viability, decreased function, or even nerve cell loss.15 In a study of 19 research volunteers given four weeks of lithium, 14 experienced a significant increase in NAA, one had no change, and four had a small decrease.16
Now, what about the interaction between those new, protected, healthy brain cells? Communication between brain cells and networks of brain cells is called "signaling." And lithium is actually necessary for at least two signal-carrying pathways.17 Researchers have also reported that lithium may help to repair abnormally functioning signaling pathways in critical areas of the brain.18
Lithium and Alzheimer's: New hope for a "hopeless" situation
As you know, there's no cure for Alzheimer's disease and there's very little available for patients (and families) that can offer even partial relief from the turmoil it causes. So when new treatments are developed or discovered, it's usually big news -a ray of hope for people stuck in a seemingly hopeless situation. One of these newly developed patent medications, called Memantine,(tm) was recently approved in Europe. Even though it's not officially "approved" in this country (yet), thousands of people are already importing Memantine to the U.S. via various Internet sources. But why go through all the trouble (not to mention risk) of getting and using this new patent formula? Apparently, it "works" by protecting brain cells against damage caused by a major excitotoxin, glutamate. But protecting against glutamate-induced nerve cell damage is also one of the well-known actions of lithium. So if it's true that this newly approved patent medication slows the progress of Alzheimer's disease in this way, then lithium should slow Alzheimer's disease progression, too. Of course, lithium treatment, which isn't patentable and doesn't have nearly the profit potential of patented Alzheimers medications, hasn't made any headlines. But that doesn't mean it isn't a promising option for patients struggling with Alzheimer's disease.
There are many other research findings that also strongly suggest that lithium will protect against potential Alzheimer's disease and slow the progression of existing cases. Researchers have reported that lithium inhibits beta-amyloid secretion, and also prevents damage caused by beta-amyloid protein once it's been formed.20-23 Beta-amyloid peptide is a signature protein involved in Alzheimer's disease: the more beta-amyloid protein, the worse the Alzheimer's becomes.
Overactivation of a brain cell protein called tau protein also contributes to neuronal degeneration in Alzheimer's disease, as does the formation of neurofibrillary tangles Lithium inhibits both of these nerve-cell damaging problems.24,25
And you've likely read that individuals with Alzheimer's disease usually have excess aluminum accumulation in brain cells. While it's not yet known whether this excess aluminum is a cause, an effect, or just coincidental, most health-conscious individuals take precautions to avoid ingesting aluminum. Unfortunately, it's impossible to completely avoid all aluminum, since it's naturally present in nearly all foods. But lithium can help protect your brain against aluminum by helping to "chelate" it so that it can be more easily removed from the body.25
Although Alzheimer's disease and senile dementia aren't technically the same, they do share many of the same degenerative features so there's every reason to expect that lithium will help prevent or slow the progression of senile dementia too.
A younger, healthier brain with just one small dose a day
As I mentioned earlier, some of these studies used rather high doses of lithium. And in some instances, as in the case of manic depression, doses as high as 90 to 180 milligrams of elemental lithium from 900 to 1800 milligrams of lithium carbonate are necessary. Quantities of lithium in that range must be monitored closely to guard against overdose and toxicity.
But you really don't need large amounts to improve your "every-day" brain function. Studies have repeatedly shown that substantially lower amounts of lithium can significantly improve brain function (as reflected in behavior).
The amounts of lithium I recommend for brain anti-aging range from 10 to 20 milligrams (from lithium aspartate or lithium orotate) daily. I've actually been recommending these amounts since the 1970s. At first I was exceptionally cautious and asked all of my patients taking lithium to have regular "lithium level" blood tests and thyroid function tests. After a year or so, I quit asking for the lithium level blood tests, since 100 percent of them came back very low. Another year after that, I stopped requesting routine thyroid function tests, too, only doing one when I was suspicious of a potential problem. In the 30 years since, I've rarely found one.
Protect your brain starting today--no prescription necessary
High-dose lithium is available only by prescription. But low-dose lithium (capsules or tablets containing 5 milligrams of lithium from lithium aspartate or lithium orotate) is available from a few natural food stores and compounding pharmacies, as well as from the Tahoma Clinic Dispensary.
If you're interested in keeping your brain as young as possible for as long as possible, you should definitely consider lithium therapy. Review this information with your physician...but make sure he is skilled and knowledgeable in nutritional and natural medicine!
A sneak peek at even more lithium secrets
In Part 2, I'll review lithium's many other effects-from preventing anorexia to relieving cluster headaches, to lowering blood sugar (and that's just to name a few!). I think you'll be surprised at just how versatile this misunderstood mineral can be.
In the meantime, if you'd like to read the Health e-Tips on lithium (or to sign up to begin receiving these free e-mail updates), visit the Nutrition & Healing website at www.wrightnewsletter.com.
JVW
Citations available upon request and on the Nutrition & Healing website: www.wrightnewsletter.com
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Today, just heard a radio doc, tell a long term manic depressive who was also on a thyroid med. The radio doc stated that long term Lithium use adversely affects the thyroid, and that thoes on it, eventually have to take a thyroid med.
Since lyme affects the thyroid in anyone, for whatever amount of time, medical advice is warranted before embarking on a course of litum, no matter what form. (my opinion. I'm not a doctor.)
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posted
Yes, that is the problem I see. Many lymies already have thyroid trouble and are taking meds. So, does this mean the thyroid meds have to be increased in people who are taking lithium? As you can see, there is also a problem of interactions with other lymie meds:
Interactions: ACEIs, methyldopa, metronidazole, tetracycline, thiazide diuretics (increased risk of lithium toxicity), anticonvulsants (increased risk of CNS toxicity), calcium channel blockers (increased risk of neurotoxicity), NSAIDs (increased steady-state plasma lithium levels), SSRIs (increased risk of lithium toxicity or seratonin syndrome), haloperidol (encephalopathy resembling the malignant neuroleptic syndrome), iodides (increased hypothyroid effects), phenothiazines (neurotoxicity with thioridazine, lithium-induced reductions in plasma chlorpromazine levels, phenothiazine-induced increases in red blood cell uptake of lithium, chlorpromazine-induced increases in renal lithium excretion), sodium bicarbonate (enhanced lithium excretion). Lithium may prolong the action of neuromuscular blockers. Increased lithium doses may be required to maintain its effects in patients on theophylline.
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