Overview

• APOE4-containing lipoproteins transfer cholesterol to neurons far less efficiently than APOE3, linking the risk variant to impaired neuronal lipid supply
• Cerebrospinal fluid analyses showed normal astrocyte cholesterol release but a marked reduction in neuronal uptake in Alzheimer’s patients
• In mouse models, lithium orotato supplementation restored cortical lithium levels, reversed amyloid and tau pathology and rescued memory without typical lithium toxicity
• Findings published August 6 in Journal of Lipid Research and Nature highlight lipid metabolism and lithium homeostasis as novel targets for disease-modifying interventions
• Researchers now plan controlled clinical trials to establish safety, dosing parameters and therapeutic potential in humans