Seriously though, besides being a Nirvana song that brings you back to your grungier days, lithium seems to play a crucial role in treating a variety of different disorders of the central nervous system. Oddly enough, lithium extends its hand into a majority of the major pathways that regulate a healthy central nervous system. Lithium is currently the most popular treatment for bipolar disorder. Lithium targets microRNAs that effect neuron outgrowth, neurogenesis, and signaling of ERK and Wnt pathways, both of which play crucial roles in maintaining a balanced nervous system. Lithium can also be used for treatment of Huntington’s, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease, and other CNS related disorders.
So if lithium is so important, why aren’t we taking it on the daily? Is this some sort of miracle drug? Lithium has many neuroprotective properties and is crucial for a healthy nervous system. So should we be taking lithium with our other vitamins every day? The intriguing thing about lithium is that since it is involved in so many different pathways, regulating one pathway will have sometimes harmful effects on the other pathways. But nonetheless, you are able to buy lithium supplements over the counter. There are relatively few side effects, and most of them are decently minor in the grand scheme of things. They include excess thirst, increased urination (go figure), upset stomach, and other minor side effects.
I’m not saying that we should just go ahead and start downing lithium by the bottle, but it’s definitely an supplement that we should be aware of. It’s crucial to many different pathways throughout the central nervous system. It has its side effects, but some might be bearable and even worth it the supplement really helps. Furthermore, many of the side effects experienced with lithium use disappear upon increased usage. I had no idea that lithium played so many important roles in maintaining our health, but it’s for sure something I want to be aware of.
