Imaging Lithium in Alzheimer's Disease (ILiAD)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A 7Li-MRI study of brain lithium distribution in Alzheimer’s disease and healthy controls
IRAS ID
306317
Contact name
Bryony Strokes-Crossley
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 31 days
Research summary
Lithium has long been used as a treatment for mood disorders and evidence suggests that it has neuroprotective effects (it protects the brain from harm), increasing grey matter volume and lowering the risk of dementia. In Alzheimer’s disease, early reports suggest that lithium slows the progression of the condition, even at low doses.
We have developed a way of safely measuring the levels of lithium in the brain. This may be very useful in future studies looking to use lithium as a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. In our pilot study, up to 12 people with Alzheimer’s disease and 8 healthy volunteers will each take two different doses of lithium for a total of two weeks. Using our advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, we will measure where lithium goes to in the brain. We will combine the lithium images with standard MRI scans to better understand the effects of lithium on the brain at different doses. We will see if these effects differ between healthy people and those with dementia. This will guide the choice of dose for future treatment trials and help understand how easy it is for people with dementia to undergo lithium brain scanning.
REC name
London - Chelsea Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/LO/0443
Date of REC Opinion
16 Jul 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion