Past publications
ORCID:
David Cousins, 0000-0001-5682-7507
Peter Thelwall, 0000-0003-1795-6394
Human brain 7Li-MRI following low-dose lithium dietary supplementation in healthy participants (2024)
It has been claimed that taking dietary lithium supplements has mental health benefits, but the doses are far lower than those prescribed for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Before this study, it wasn't known if low doses would result in measurable levels of lithium in the brain. This study took brain scans using new magnetic resonance imaging (7Li-MRI) methods that we have developed to show the distribution of lithium in the brain. Nine healthy volunteer males took lithium supplements for up to 28 days at a very low dose, and were scanned on day 14 or 28. This study found that the Brain's 7Li-signal was stable between two- and four-weeks of supplementation. Showing it is possible for studies to assess low dose lithium administration!
Read the full paper here.
Lithium response in bipolar disorder is associated with focal adhesion and PI3K-Akt networks: a multi-omics replication study (2024)
This study used network propagation methods in a genome-wide association study and a sample of 2039 patients from the ConLiGen study. This study identified functional enrichment in focal adhesion and PI3K-Akt pathways, but did not find an association with the ECM pathway. The results of this study identified factors that may influence how people respond to taking Lithium.
Read the full paper here.
Plus ça change? Switching lithium preparations (2023)
This study explore lithium dose and plasma levels before and after switching brands of Lithium Carbonate, to determine the interchangeability of different brands of lithium from a pharmacokinetic perspective. It was found that the most common brands of lithium carbonate appear to produce similar plasma lithium levels.
Read the full paper here.
Identifying the neuropsychiatric health effects of low-dose lithium interventions: A systematic review (2022)
This study examined 18 articles, and found significant reports of pr0-cognitive effects after taking low-dose lithium. None of the articles reported safety concerns about low-dose lithium.
Read the full paper here.
Effect of Lithium on Proton Longitudinal Relaxation (2019)
Proton longitudinal relaxation (T1) is the time taken for spinning protons to realign with the external magnetic field. This is effectively what happens during an MRI scan! There is some evidence to suggest that corticial T1 is higher in individuals with bipolar disorder, and that lithium reduces this. In this study, MRI scans were taken of individuals with bipolar disorder receiving lithium, individuals with bipolar disorder naïve to lithium, and individuals without bipolar disorder. There were no significant differences found in T1 between the two groups with bipolar. But, individuals with bipolar had a higher mean T1 than the healthy controls in several brain regions. We think this may mean that there is abnormal tissue structure in the brains of individuals with bipolar, possibly to do with iron content, water content and other factors. However, the precise mechanism remains unknown...for now!
Read the full paper here
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White matter microstructural properties in bipolar disorder in relationship to the spatial distribution of lithium in the brain (2019)
People with bipolar disorder, receiving different medications, including lithium, underwent underwent diffusion tensor imaging (DTI - an MRI technology that allows us to measure the microstructural integrity of white fibre tracts). Lithium-treated individuals with bipolar and healthy control group had a higher Generalised fractional anistrophy (gFA) y than those with bipolar being treated with different medications. This suggests long-term lithium use is associated with greater white matter integrity. We also showed a postive relationship between white matter gFA and the spatial distribution of lithium.
Read the full paper here.
3D 7Li magnetic resonance imaging of brain lithium distribution in bipolar disorder (2018)
We tested and implemented a highly efficient method to measure brain lithium concentration(3D7Li-MRI), so brain lithium concentration of people with bipolar can be measured more accurately.
Read the full paper here.
Imaging the distribution and effects of lithium in the brain in bipolar disorder (2018)
Lithium is thought to improve white matter integrity in bipolar disorder. This study took brain scans of lithium-treated and lithium-naïve people with bipolar. It found that regional lithium concentration correlated with localised tissue-level effects, strengthening the assertion that lithium improves WM integrity.
Read the full paper here.
MRC_Lamp (2014)
Does lithium block the effects of amphetamines?
It is thought that lithium may improve the symptoms of mania by blocking the actions of dopamine. Amphetamines reproduce some of the features of mania by boosting brain dopamine levels. They can therefore be used as a model of bipolar disorder in otherwise healthy subjects. Volunteers had a brain scan whilst being given a dose of methamphetamine. Participants then took a course of either lithium or 'sugar pills' before returning for a second dose of methamphetamine, again during a scan. We analysed the scans taken before and after each of the drugs given to look at which parts of their brains were affected by amphetamines, and whether lithium altered these effects.
MRC_Lite (2013)
Does lithium affect brain structure?
This study took brain scans before and after lithium treatment, and found significant brain MRI differences. Likely due to
a change in the MRI signal being produced rather than an actual increase in brain volume, thus supporting our initial idea -
that lithium does not physically alter the size of the brain, rather it may change the behaviour of water in the tissues. This in turn alters the signal detected during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to create the illusion of a change in size.
Read the full paper here.
MRC_Lisp (2011)
Where does all the lithium go?
The MR scanner was redeveloped to detect lithium - we are one of the few centres in the world who can measure lithium this way. Volunteers took lithium for around a week, before having a brain scan. The concentration of lithium in the brain was about 80% of that in the blood. The study did not reveal any significant differences in lithium concentrations in different regions of the brain. So, we know how much lithium arrives in the brain but we can't give you a specific destination... yet!
Read the full paper here.