Title: Microdose lithium reduces cellular senescence in human astrocytes – a potential pharmacotherapy for COVID-19? Journal on Aging, June 2020
Overview:
This research paper covers the recent research on low doses of lithium in Alzheimer’s patients. The paper delves into the groups research on how lithium may reduce some of the hallmarks of cellular senescence in astrocytes using a cell culture model. It piggy backs on previous research linking amyloid-beta deposition to cellular senescence in neurons, and that low dose lithium may be help to prevent Alzheimer’s.
The connection with COVID-19 is that in the research on preventing senescence, the researchers found that low dose lithium suppressed IL-6, which is elevated and a problem in severe COVID-19. The connection to modulating IL-6 is interesting, as is the work on low-dose lithium and Alzheimer’s.
My thoughts:
Other papers covering lithium’s antiviral properties in reference to coronaviruses and COVID-19:
- GSK-3 Inhibition as a Therapeutic Approach Against SARs CoV2: Dual Benefit of Inhibiting Viral Replication While Potentiating the Immune Response
- Lithium and coronaviral infections. A scoping review.
- Lithium’s antiviral effects: a potential drug for CoViD-19 disease?
- Lithium as a candidate treatment for COVID‐19: Promises and pitfalls
- Lithium chloride combination with rapamycin for the treatment of COVID-19 pneumonia
- Commentary: Does Lithium Deserve a Place in the Treatment Against COVID-19? A Preliminary Observational Study in Six Patients, Case Report
- Respiratory infections during lithium and valproate medication: a within-individual prospective study of 50,000 patients with bipolar disorder
Note: I’m not recommending that anyone use lithium as a treatment for SARS-CoV-2. This is offered for informational purposes only.